Holland Reporter

State Representative Luke Meerman announced the introduction of House Bill 4400, aiming to ban the sale of vehicles developed by specified foreign entities. The legislation primarily addresses concerns over foreign countries, particularly the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), potentially threatening U.S. national and economic security by dominating key industries and increasing reliance on foreign products.

"China’s effort to make the U.S. dependent on them for important products is at the heart of their strategy to undermine our country," Meerman stated. He highlighted that the CCP has been subsidizing its auto manufacturers to sell inexpensive cars globally, posing risks to U.S. auto manufacturers and national security.

Meerman further described the technological capabilities of these vehicles, noting, "These vehicles are capable of being operated remotely and transmitting images and 3-D models of critical infrastructure sites back to Beijing." He stressed the importance of not allowing advanced devices from adversarial nations to compromise U.S. security.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has already established a rule preventing Chinese connected vehicles from entering the U.S. In alignment, Michigan’s U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin has introduced legislation to bolster the Department's authority to restrict Chinese vehicles. Despite federal actions, Meerman urged the necessity of state-level measures.

"Federal policies can ebb and flow, especially when they are only executive rules established under a bygone presidential administration," Meerman remarked. Emphasizing the role of the Michigan Legislature, he added, "The Michigan Legislature is best positioned to permanently protect our own state’s residents, workers, and companies from malicious foreign actors. This legislation offers the best path forward for keeping invasive foreign technology out of our country and standing up for our auto-workers."

House Bill 4400 has been directed to the House Committee on Government Operations for further consideration.