US House Approves Bills to Curb Reliance on Chinese Batteries

The US House has passed two bills aimed at reducing dependency on Chinese-made batteries. The legislation seeks to prevent the Department of Homeland Security from purchasing from six Chinese battery companies and establishes a task force to address threats from China. The bills now await Senate approval.

The United States House of Representatives took significant steps this week by approving two pieces of legislation designed to mitigate dependency on Chinese-produced batteries. Both bills aim to prevent the Department of Homeland Security from acquiring batteries from Chinese companies and to form a specialized group to monitor China-related threats.

The first bill, titled the Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act (HR1166), was passed by voice vote on Monday. Introduced by Republican Carlos Gimenez, the measure targets six Chinese battery manufacturers, including industry leaders like Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd and BYD Co., Ltd.

According to lawmakers, this legislative move is crucial for national security as well as industrial growth within the United States. Republican Congressman Gimenez stated that it's imperative for the US to reduce China's influence in the battery sector. Democratic Representative Chris Craia echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need to block any threat from the Chinese Communist Party on American soil.

Despite the financial implications, US lawmakers remain committed to diminishing long-term reliance on Chinese battery supply chains. With China dominating the global battery market, these bills, if ratified by the Senate, could reshape the geopolitical landscape of electric vehicle development.

(With inputs from agencies.)