Canada considering following U.S. in banning vehicle software and hardware from China, Russia

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday she is «absolutely» considering following the U.S. move to ban vehicle hardware and software from China or Russia,

«Our government has made it very clear that we take really seriously intentional Chinese overcapacity and we take very seriously the security threat from China,» Freeland said in Ottawa.

Freeland's comments come a day after the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security, a branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce, announced its plans to «prohibit the sale or import of connected vehicles integrating specific pieces of hardware and software … with a sufficient nexus to» China or Russia.

Freeland made her remarks in answer to a question and did not provide specific details, other than to say the decision was being taken in consultation with Canadian industry and labour groups.

The U.S. announcement said that country's proposed new rules would ban hardware and software that allow for «external connectivity and autonomous driving capabilities in connected vehicles.»

In a statement, the Commerce Department said it was making the move because «certain technologies originating from [China] or Russia present an undue risk to both U.S. critical infrastructure and those using connected vehicles.

»Today's action is a proactive measure designed to protect our national security and the safety of U.S. drivers," the statement said.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said the move was also being made to protect the «privacy of U.S. citizens.»

The Commerce Department said the new rules would apply to cars, trucks and buses, but would not include agricultural or mining vehicles, that aren't used on public roads.

The announcement said the software ban would