Chris Bowen rules out copying US ban of Chinese electric vehicles
The Climate Change Minister rejected the ban, as Beijing’s top diplomat in Canberra declared the country’s EVs would help Australia deliver its promised carbon emissions cuts.
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen says the Albanese government won’t replicate a US ban on Chinese electric vehicles, as Beijing’s top diplomat in Canberra declared the country’s EVs would help Australia deliver its promised carbon emissions cuts.
The Biden administration announced this week it would prohibit the use of internet-connected cars containing Chinese software and hardware on US roads, amid fears they could be used to cause accidents or allow hackers to infiltrate critical infrastructure.
Home Affairs had said it was “closely monitoring” the US’s implementation of the national security policy to understand its implications.
But Mr Bowen went a step further on Thursday, saying the government wanted consumers to have access to as many clean vehicle options as possible.
“We won’t be banning vehicles made in any particular country,” the minister said.
“We’ll continue to work with all the relevant agencies to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place. But I want Australians to have more choice of vehicles to buy, not less.”
He said “exciting” new electric and hybrid car models were headed to Australia in coming weeks, as Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian declared countries should not set “unnecessary limits” on Chinese vehicles.
Mr Xiao said Chinese EVs posed no security risk, and would play an important role in tackling climate change.
“Let’s not over-interpret or exaggerate. Let’s do business following the economic rules,” he said.
“If China and Australia can co-operate to address climate change it will tremendously help both countries to succeed in their climate change goals.”
Mr Xiao said electric vehicle production was a prime opportunity for co-operation between the countries.
“We are highly, highly complementary. China imports the material from Australia, we make it into batteries, and we sell it to different countries,” he said.
The ambassador made the comments at an event in Canberra to mark the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China.
He declared the Australia-China relationship had moved from “stability and improvement, to strengthening and further development”.
“The Chinese side is ready to make joint efforts to firmly implement the strategic consensus reached by our leaders and work together to build a more mature, more stable, more fruitful, comprehensive strategic partnership,” he said.
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced the US’s latest crackdown on Chinese electric vehicles on Monday, which follows the 100 per cent tariff on the country’s EVs announced in May.
Ms Raimondo said the administration wanted to “secure the American people, including our children, from potential surveillance”.
“When foreign adversaries build software to make a vehicle that means it can be used for surveillance, can be remotely controlled, which threatens the privacy and safety of Americans on the road,” she said.
“In an extreme situation, a foreign adversary could shut down or take control of all their vehicles operating in the United States all at the same time, causing crashes, blocking roads.”
Former Australian ambassador to the US Joe Hockey backed the Albanese government’s decision.
“We’re not making cars anymore … So the question is: What are we banning?” he told the National Press Club.
But Mr Hockey warned China’s “very aggressive approach” to technology and data gathering would undermine its own manufacturing base.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong this week urged her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, to use its global influence to strengthen global rules and norms.
“It is in all of our interests for China to play a constructive role in the international system that is inclusive and representative,” Senator Wong said after a bilateral meeting with Mr Wang on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
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