U.S. lawmakers have raised an alarm after several cars made by Chinese automakers were found coming in and out of the country across the U.S.-Mexico border.
While Chinese cars are banned in the country, a loophole in the legislation allows them to be driven by citizens of Mexico who work in the U.S. and commute daily.
However, there are serious security concerns, considering the technology Chinese cars are equipped with, that could record footage and location data and share them with the Chinese government.
As a result, a new bill is set to be introduced that will ban the movement of Chinese vehicles from Mexico.
Cross-Border Loophole Triggers Alarm in Washington
U.S. lawmakers are moving to introduce a new law that aims to shut the loophole allowing Chinese vehicles to roam freely within the country. Notably, a cybersecurity law is in place that prohibits the sale of these cars in the U.S.
A 100% tariff on Chinese cars is also in effect, making it nearly impossible for automakers in China to import and offer their vehicles at prices that could literally break the market.
We’re talking about Chinese electric vehicles, hybrids, and SUVs that are priced around $20,000, whose dealerships are located in Mexico’s border cities, such as Tijuana’s Zona Río. That means these cars cost a fraction of what most basic cars cost in the U.S.
According to a report by the New York Post, Congress will pass a motion to ban Chinese vehicles from U.S. roads entirely later this month. Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) of the Select Committee on China and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) said in a statement:
“Every vehicle on American roads is a rolling data collection device, capturing information on location, movement, people, and infrastructure in real time, and we cannot allow Chinese vehicles or components to be a part of that system.
“The legislation we introduce will show bipartisan support for doing what must be done to protect the manufacturing sector, jobs, and the American people from China’s predatory trade practices and manipulative attacks on American industry.”
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin said in a statement:
“The idea that you could have a fleet of these folks driving around major infrastructures sites taking all that data, all that video, all that mapping and sending that back.
“As someone who’s from the Pentagon, that is the exact detailed information an adversarial loves to have in their war planning.”
How Current Rules Allow Chinese Vehicles Across the Border
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection permits foreign vehicles to enter the country as temporary visitors, even if the vehicles are non-compliant with local rules and regulations. This is because the vehicles are not imported into the U.S., but are entering temporarily.
A CBP spokesperson said that drivers are allowed to enter the U.S. with their own vehicles if they have all the required documentation, and only if the entry is for personal use, subject to duration and the paperwork involved.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) told The Post that Chinese vehicles coming from across the border fall under the CBP’s temporary admission as visitor vehicles under border admissibility rules.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles clarified that it does not keep tabs on vehicles being allowed on U.S. roads and directs inquiries to federal agencies. The same applies to the California Highway Patrol, which stated that it has no authority over vehicles entering the country and does not track them in the state.
This raises a big question about whether all vehicles entering the country are tracked, and if so, how often.