Preface
On May 8, U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo claimed that "the U.S. is likely to take 'extreme measures' to ban Chinese connected cars from entering the U.S."
To say that in addition to the public investigation of Chinese cars by the United States, this is the first time that the United States has blatantly shown signs of issuing a ban.
So, what exactly is the reason for the US ban on Chinese cars entering the United States? How will China respond?
Information sources:
Observer.com: Raimondo claims that the United States may take "extreme measures" to ban Chinese connected cars from entering the United States
America's "extreme measures"
According to a Reuters report, Raimondo spoke:
"We have to digest all the information and then figure out what action we want to take. We could take extreme measures, such as banning Chinese connected cars from entering the United States, or seek détente. ”
Raimondo's "all the information" refers to Biden's Feb. 29 announcement of the results of an investigation into Chinese-made cars, as well as public comments submitted by April 30.
In fact, since last year, the United States has continued to increase the pressure on China's new energy vehicles.
Although the U.S. government has not explicitly issued a ban on Chinese cars entering the United States, it is also hindering Chinese cars from opening up the international market through other channels.
On April 11 this year, the United States added six Chinese companies to the Entity List for export control.
After Biden moved into the White House, he increased the amount of sanctions against Chinese entities to 319, the largest in any U.S. administration.
Every word and deed of the U.S. government is revealing that they regard China as a "strong adversary", first there was a "chip war", and now, the United States has begun to launch an "attack" on Chinese cars.
Last year, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen held a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, at which Yellen trumpeted rumors about China's new energy "overcapacity".
According to Yellen, "China's 'excess capacity' is hurting U.S. businesses and workers, and China's 'surge' exports of electric vehicles, batteries, and solar panels could cause problems for the U.S.."
In addition to Yellen, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai has also made similar expressions about such absurd remarks.
In addition, U.S. Congressman Sherrod Brown wrote directly to Biden, asking for "the United States to completely ban Chinese electric vehicles from entering the U.S. market."
Information sources:
Observer.com: The United States smears China's electric vehicle overcapacity, "narrow political manipulation"
It can be seen that the U.S. government and congressmen seem to have a "deep hate" for Chinese electric vehicles, so it is difficult for Chinese electric vehicles to open the market in the United States.
However, not only Chinese tram brands, but also America's own tram sales in the United States are also low.
Last year, electric vehicles accounted for only 7.6% of the U.S. auto market, which is a pitiful market figure.
However, from the behavior and rhetoric of the United States in the past two years, it can be perceived that the United States has actually secretly restricted the development of Chinese automobiles into the United States, but now, they have begun to play the "open card".
Information sources:
Observer.com: U.S. companies are "under pressure from Congress" to gradually stop using CATL batteries, and industry insiders: it will severely limit supply in the United States
Battery crisis
On January 20 this year, the U.S. Congress has ordered to prohibit the Pentagon from purchasing battery products from six Chinese companies, including CATL and BYD.
This ban did not appear suddenly, the U.S. Congress has already begun to focus on China's battery companies, and on December 22, 2023, it joined the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" passed by the United States.
In response, Duke Energy, one of the largest power companies in the United States, plans to stop using energy storage batteries produced by CATL at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base in North Carolina.
In addition, Duke Energy will phase out CATL's batteries and switch to batteries made in the United States or its friendly countries.
I have to say that the United States "can't stand it" the development of Chinese companies in the United States, so it plans to replace them by supporting its own enterprises through suppression and sanctions.
Just a few days ago, the U.S. government issued the "Inflation Reduction Act" in the order on clean energy vehicles, stipulate:
"If Americans buy battery modules that contain Chinese manufacturing or assembly, the tax credit of up to $7,500 will be limited or even eliminated."
In fact, since last year, the United States has announced that people will not be able to enjoy tax deductions for the purchase of battery car brands made in China.
This is squeezing the development of Chinese tram companies in the United States, so the American people will inevitably not take Chinese tram brands into consideration.
Second, under the continuous suppression and "drive" of Chinese battery companies in the United States, Ford also announced the suspension of the construction of a $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery factory in Michigan, USA.
Information sources:
Interface News: Ford suspended $3.5 billion investment in building a battery plant in Michigan, USA
Originally, in order to develop its own new energy vehicle series, Ford specially invested in the construction of a factory to prepare for a big move, and invited CATL to provide technical and service support for the production of the factory.
Originally, this was a win-win situation, but with the help of the United States, Ford had to temporarily suspend the project.
In the face of repeated excesses and "arrogant" remarks by the United States, how will China respond?
Information sources:
Global Times: Raimondo claims that the United States can take "extreme measures" to ban Chinese connected cars from entering the United States, as the Chinese side has previously stated
China's response
In the face of Raimondo's "dismounted" remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made a clear rebuttal: "The relevant remarks are not only false narratives, but also typical manifestations of pan-politicization and security of economic and trade issues." ”
In addition, Raimondo once made a vivid analogy, in which she "worried": "If there are 3 million Chinese cars on American roads, Beijing can turn them off at the same time." ”
When Raimondo uttered this whimsical and absurd remark, did she forget that Tesla, the largest electric car company in the United States, now has a gigafactory in China?
Since you can engage in "conspiracy theories", then we can also use the topic to play.
Mao Ning said: "If this logic is followed, China should be more worried that Washington will be able to transfer hundreds of millions of Apple phones from Chinese users to the United States, even with a black screen at the same time." ”
Here, we would like to take pride in the domineering attitude of our spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
The U.S. double-standard rhetoric is really incomprehensible, and the "national security threat" they often put forward is actually an absurd excuse.
Ford and Tesla of the United States have been selling high cars in China, including Toyota, Nissan, and Honda for Japanese cars, and Hyundai and Kia for Korean cars.
In this regard, China should feel more "panic", as for battery safety, it is even more out of nowhere.
On March 28 this year, the Financial Times published an interview with Zeng Yuqun, chairman of CATL.
In the face of the "panicked" attitude of the United States towards the security threat of China's batteries, Zeng Yuqun also said helplessly: "Batteries are like stones or bricks, how can something like a brick be a spy?" ”
Therefore, regarding the "national security threats" that the United States keeps putting forward, we actually feel very incredible.
In that case, it would be absolutely safe for you to completely cut off trade with any country behind closed doors and use your own "Made in the USA" for everything.
Information sources:
North Evening Online: CATL responds to US accusations: batteries are like bricks for building houses, how can they be spies?
On October 20, 2023, China announced export controls on graphite-related items.
I have to say that China's countermeasures have hit my heart every time.
Just as when the United States issued a ban on film sales, China backhanded the two most important elements in chip manufacturing, "germanium and gallium", to export controls, thus bringing about a "reverse stuck" behavior.
As the most indispensable raw material in the battery, graphite can also be countered, which is the classic "You don't look down on our battery?" Then make it yourself, how can you build it without materials."
China is the world's largest graphite producer, accounting for 62% of the world's total output.
China's move to impose export controls is a stark reminder to global car companies that it is almost impossible to develop a perfect battery without China's graphite, unless you can quickly find a replacement.
So, how will China deal with this situation next?
Information sources:
Global Times: What are the considerations behind China's adjustment of graphite export controls? Analysis of industry insiders
American means with the development of China
Although the United States has not officially issued a relevant ban on Chinese cars from entering the United States, it can also be seen through their various foreshadowing behaviors that this ban is estimated to be "not far away".
However, the United States does not seem to have taken into account the feelings of its own company, Tesla.
Tesla, as the largest brand of electric vehicles in the United States, his status is self-evident, although Tesla's development process has also experienced several twists and turns, but at least now it can be regarded as pulling China as a "backer".
On April 28, Tesla CEO Elon Musk went to Beijing to meet with Ren Hongbin, president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
This time, Musk's itinerary was not announced to the public, but a secret visit, and everyone knew the news when he arrived.
The purpose of Musk's visit to China is to introduce Tesla's FSD (self-driving technology) system to China, and China is happy to cooperate.
Originally, after this meeting, a good cooperation agreement would be reached, but where is Tesla to be placed by the US government's "table-lifting" behavior behind the scenes?
On the other hand, although the development of new energy vehicles in the world is slowing down, and many car companies, including Apple, have begun to suspend or delay the development of electric vehicles.
But in fact, everyone's "little actions" in private have never stopped.
Information sources:
Finance: It is reported that Nissan and Honda want to join forces to build low-cost electric cars against BYD and other Chinese automakers
On March 14 this year, according to relevant media reports, the two leading Japanese automakers "Nissan and Honda" plan to join forces to compete with BYD and other Chinese companies for the electric vehicle market.
The reason why China's electric vehicles can quickly "run" into people's hearts is mainly because of their ultra-high cost performance, and Japan is currently planning to take the low-price route, intending to have a price war.
In addition, BMW also announced that it will cooperate with Mercedes-Benz to build a supercharging network in China, intending to take a sprint stage in the field of electric vehicles and begin to vigorously complete the transformation from fuel to new energy.
Through the practices of these mature car companies, it can be seen that new energy trams are still the ultimate "destination" of the development of automobiles, and the United States has repeatedly relaxed the fuel policy, which is nothing more than disrupting the pace of global new energy development.
epilogue
In this "car war", the purpose of the United States is very obvious, and their new energy technology has no other achievements except for being able to come up with a Tesla.
On the contrary, after the Chinese car company BYD gave up the field of oil vehicles, the tram technology is considered to be unbeatable, and many new energy brands such as Xiaomi and Weilai have risen from the ground, and the United States has begun to panic.
They can't accept the "backward" gap, so they will be embarrassed and angry to vigorously suppress Chinese cars.
In the future, new energy vehicles are an inevitable trend, and it is not easy for the United States to completely isolate Chinese cars from entering the United States.