Excerpt
October 16, 2024, Opinion: "he Biden administration recently proposed barring from the United States any electric vehicles (EVs) using certain technology from China or Russia, citing national security concerns. The rule would apply to vehicles with hardware and software allowing the vehicle to communicate externally using the internet—such as through Bluetooth, cellular, and Wi-Fi systems—and software enabling autonomous driving. “Malicious access to these systems could allow adversaries to access and collect our most sensitive data and remotely manipulate cars on American roads,” the Commerce Department said in its assessment. The proposal reflects some legitimate cybersecurity concerns, but an import ban along with 100 percent tariff on EVs from China runs the risk of insulating the US auto industry from external competition, to its detriment. Government efforts to protect national security at all costs could end up overprotecting US automakers, stifling innovation and entrepreneurship, and hurting US industrial competitiveness in rapidly evolving high-tech fields. "