The United States will begin an investigation into possible risks that Chinese car imports may pose to national security and impose some restrictions on American purchases, the White House announced on Thursday, as cited by Reuters.

President Joe Biden’s administration said in a press release that the investigation, which will be conducted by the Commerce Department in Washington, is necessary because the cars have come to collect “vast amounts of sensitive data about their drivers and passengers and their regular use.” cameras and sensors to record detailed US security information.”

“China’s policies could flood our market with their vehicles, increasing risks to our national security,” the statement quoted President Joe Biden as saying. “I will not allow this during my tenure,” he stressed.

White House officials told reporters it was too early to say what measures might be taken against Chinese car imports, but no decision had yet been made on a possible ban.

Biden called the investigation an “unprecedented action” to ensure that cars on US roads that “come from countries of concern like China” do not undermine US national security.

The US opens a preventive investigation into the import of Chinese cars

Reuters notes that there are relatively few Chinese-made cars in the U.S., but Gina Raimondo, the U.S. Commerce Secretary, said the White House administration is investigating before they grow and “potentially threaten us.” National security”.

Chinese electric car makers send most of their exports to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe, and last year the EU launched its own investigation into how Chinese subsidies to automakers affect competition in the European market.

BYD, which last year overtook Tesla to become the world’s best-selling automaker, has repeatedly said it has no plans to enter the U.S. market.

China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment. But Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, told the news agency that it would be unfair for only cars from a certain country to be subject to investigation and possible import restrictions, given that all cars produced are now equipped with smart sensors.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington has previously criticized the administration of President Joe Biden several times as it prepared proposals for new restrictions on imports from China.

The US government has banned Huawei from the US

Last November, a group of Democratic and Republican congressmen sounded the alarm about Chinese companies believed to be collecting sensitive data while testing their self-driving cars in the US.

The US Department of Commerce has now announced that it will open a public hearing on the matter and that it will develop an action plan within 60 days.

The United States previously banned Chinese telecommunications companies from operating in its market and deemed Huawei and ZTE “threats” to national security, forcing American service providers to remove equipment made by them from their networks.

Instead, the White House recalled Thursday that U.S. and other automakers face significant restrictions in China as the Beijing government tightens data management rules and companies in most sectors are now required to get permission from communist authorities before transferring data abroad.

Last May, Chinese authorities also tightened regulations on the auto industry, including a proposed ban on the ability of smart vehicles to transmit data abroad directly, forcing them to use local cloud storage services.