New legislation could hinder Biden’s electric vehicle push.

President Biden’s Electric Vehicle Transition Faces Roadblock

President Joe Biden’s ambitious plan to transition to electric vehicles may encounter a significant hurdle due to Republican efforts aimed at restricting the import of minerals crucial for electric battery production.

Bill Introduced to Ban Imported Products from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

On June 30, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) introduced a bill that seeks to prohibit the import of products from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This African nation is the largest global producer of cobalt, a mineral essential for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. Cobalt is also a key element of President Biden’s climate and green energy policies.

Concerns Over Forced Labor and China’s Influence

Rep. Smith argues that the Democratic Republic of the Congo relies on forced labor, and importing materials from the country benefits China, a major global competitor of the United States. The Associated Press reports that Beijing controls the majority of cobalt mines in Congo.

“On the backs of trafficked workers and child laborers, the Chinese Communist Party is exploiting the vast cobalt resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo to fuel its economy and global agenda,” Smith stated in a news release. He further emphasized the need for the United States to reduce dependence on China’s brutal dictatorship and put an end to the exploitation of children as young as 6 years old.

Legislation to Prohibit Importing Goods Produced with Child or Forced Labor

Smith’s proposed legislation aims to ban the import of goods containing metals or minerals, particularly cobalt and lithium, that are mined, produced, smelted, or processed using child labor or forced labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The bill also requires the president to identify and impose sanctions, including transaction and visa prohibitions, on foreign entities involved in the exploitation of child labor in Congo.

Implications for Biden’s Electric Vehicle Plans

If this bill were to pass, it would deal a significant blow to President Biden’s electric vehicle plans. Recently, the Biden administration announced its intention to provide $2 billion in grants to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. However, without access to the key mineral cobalt, which Congo controls nearly 70% of, securing a sufficient supply for battery production would become increasingly challenging.

Previous Setbacks and Challenges

This is not the first roadblock President Biden has faced in his pursuit of a sustainable electric vehicle industry. In March, an Australian mining company that was expected to open the only cobalt mine in Idaho backed out of the project. The U.S. Department of Defense had awarded the company $15 million for drilling and a cobalt refinery study. However, the company cited falling cobalt prices due to competition from China and Congo as the reason for its withdrawal.

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