Commentary
Normally, a new year brings a renewed focus on getting things done in Washington. But with Congress accomplishing little in 2023 and attentions now shifting to the November elections, it is more prudent than ever that the policy agenda of our nation’s leaders reflects what’s best for our collective future, not politics.
Take this administration’s campaign to spread electric vehicle (EV) technologies. There is no doubt that EVs will be part of America’s future. But decisions made by President Joe Biden and his allies to incentivize and rush the adoption of EVs into the American transportation sector will have unintended consequences—the most unrecognized being the implications on our national security priorities.
In April 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced a rule that would regulate the tailpipe emissions of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles. The aim is to have roughly two-thirds of the automobiles sold in 2032 be electric. However, proponents of these types of heavy-handed government policies fail to account for the realities of the global EV market and, importantly, the dominance held by the Chinese.
For the past 15 years, China has solidified various investments within the EV value chain, fortifying its position of power in this rapidly expanding market. China dominates the market for rare-earth reserves, mineral extraction, and battery production, all of which are integral to the production of EVs. And while the
U.S. Geological Survey estimates that China only has about 36 percent of the globe’s rare-earth reserves, it has come to control 70 percent of the world’s extraction capability and
nearly 77 percent of the world’s battery manufacturing capacity.
It’s this condition that makes a concerted push toward EVs risky because, clearly, to get more electric vehicles, America will increase its reliance on China.
Recently, a letter co-signed by me and 16 other national security experts highlighted these details and what the associated risk that continued overexposure to China could mean for public officials. the U.S. automobile market will be inadvertently tied to Chinese interests, making prices and markets more susceptible to Chinese manipulation.
For example, in October 2023, China announced intentions to enforce export restrictions on graphite,
a mineral that makes up the largest amount by volume and mass of an EV battery. The country has a history of weaponizing trade as a means to exert its power. As Columbia’s Center on Global Energy Policy
explained, the move was clearly “part of China’s broader strategy of flexing its economic muscle in response to escalating trade tensions with the United States.” If we continue to push the status quo, America will more likely face a trade war with China rather than a fully integrated, electrified future.
Instead of electrification strategies and regulations that will artificially increase EV demand, we need to ensure that domestic investment and infrastructure opportunities are our first priority and establish policies that will level our playing field with China. One place to start would be enabling more domestic mineral and battery production with a timely and effective permitting process.
Thankfully, national security voices such as ours aren’t the only ones sounding the alarm. Recently, dozens of congressional members in both the
Senate and
House wrote a likeminded letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan expressing concern over this aggressive plan to reduce vehicle emissions and flood the nation with EVs. Additionally, the House passed the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2023 (CARS Act) at the end of last year, which affirms American security and independence and would force leaders to think of solutions that will responsibly and equitably transition people to EVs.
Pushing forward with emissions rules and mandates will only serve to undermine America’s national security.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s recent speeches at the G20 make it clear that China wants to maintain its position at the top of this market and is continuing investments to do so. As stated in our letter, we must strengthen our market share and capabilities before hastening the clean energy transition. In this way, we can stand up for freedom and democracy, rather than submit to Chinese domination, and secure a prosperous economic future for us all in the 21st century.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
