Kildee in 2023. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
There's growing bipartisan momentum on the Hill for banning or restricting Chinese EVs.
Why it matters: Washington is uniting — at least rhetorically — against these imports, which would make more cheap EVs available to the public but which may compete with American businesses.
What they're saying: Sherrod Brown called for a ban on these cars; the House China select committee is investigating them; and President Biden's now saying that they're a security threat.
- On Wednesday, Debbie Stabenow questioned U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai in a hearing about the vehicles posing "a significant threat" to American manufacturing.
- Tai replied: "We have to take action."
- "The specific challenge of EVs is actually a part of a larger pattern that we have seen over and over and over again. First it was steel and aluminum. Then it was solar panels," Tai said.
That's not to mention Josh Hawley, who has proposed raising tariffs on Chinese cars to 125%, in line with Donald Trump's recent campaign pledge.
Our thought bubble: No matter who wins the White House, this is one of those issues that could look much the same.
- Biden just this week called for significantly increasing existing tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum, key auto metals.
- "I think we should use some trade remedies. This is state ownership. This is clearly dumping," Rep. Dan Kildee told Axios.
