For more information on pursuing trade policy interests through the legislative process, please contact Nicole Bivens Collinson at (202) 730-4956 or via email.
China. The Fair Trade with China Enforcement Act (S. 153, introduced Jan. 30 by Sen. Rubio, R-Fla.) would (1) direct the annual production of a list of China-made goods receiving support from the Chinese government pursuant to the Made in China 2025 policy, (2) prohibit exports to China of any national security-sensitive technology or intellectual property subject to U.S. jurisdiction or exported by any person subject to U.S. jurisdiction, and (3) ban U.S. government procurement of any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system or as critical technology as part of any system.
H.R. 638 (introduced Jan. 30 by Rep. Smith, R-N.J.) would withdraw permanent normal trade relations treatment for imports from China and require an annual affirmation that China is making serious and sustained improvement in respecting human rights for Chinese goods to receive NTR treatment in the future.
Nearshoring. The Western Hemisphere Nearshoring Act (H.R. 722, introduced Feb. 1 by Rep. Smith, R-Tenn.) aims to decrease U.S. dependency on manufacturing in China, encourage manufacturing operations in Latin America, and reduce migration due to lost regional economic opportunities. Among other things, Smith said, the bill would “create a low-interest loan program … with financing provided by existing tariffs on Chinese goods to provide an incentive for companies to relocate their factories from China to Latin America.”
CBP. S. 243 (introduced Feb. 2 by Sens. Lankford, R-Okla., and Sinema, I-Ariz.) would allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection to repair ports of entry at which the Office of Field Operations conducts certain enforcement and facilitation activities without involving the General Services Administration unless the project is valued at more than $300,000.
Supply Chains. The Supply Chain Security and Resilience Act (H.R. 762, introduced Feb. 2 by Rep. Blunt Rochester, D-Del.) would create a dedicated supply chain office led by an assistant secretary in the Department of Commerce, require that office to map and monitor supply chains to identify vulnerabilities, and direct that office to establish standards and best practices for U.S. companies to address supply chain vulnerabilities.
H.R. 763 and H.R. 774 would establish an Office of Manufacturing Security and Resilience in the DOC. H.R. 796 would establish the Supply Chain Resiliency and Crisis Response Office in the DOC. H.R. 826 would establish a National Resilience Center of Excellence in the DOC.
Labeling. H.R. 797 (introduced Feb. 2 by Rep. Khanna, D-Calif.) would require country of origin labeling on beef, pork, and dairy products.
Imports. The Securing the Border for Public Health Act (H.R. 801, introduced Feb. 2 by Rep. Lesko, R-Ariz.) would provide for the suspension of entries and imports from designated countries to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and the import of certain controlled substances.
Exports. The Increasing American Jobs Through Greater Exports to Africa Act (S. 158, introduced Jan. 31 by Sens. Durbin, D-Ill., and Boozman, R-Ark.) would (1) develop a comprehensive strategy to increase U.S. goods and services exports to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean by at least 200 percent over the next ten years, (2) create a special White House Africa strategy coordinator to maximize resources to help U.S. companies expand into these markets, and (3) encourage greater attention to African, Latin American, and Caribbean commercial markets by appropriate U.S. government agencies.
The China Oil Export Prohibition Act (S. 190, introduced Jan. 31 by Sen. Rubio, R-Fla.) would prohibit exports of crude and refined oil and certain petroleum products to China.
The Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act (H.R. 647, introduced Jan. 31 by Rep. Johnson, R-Ohio) would repeal restrictions on the export and import of natural gas.
The Keep Huawei on the Entity List Act (H.R. 686, introduced Jan. 31 by Rep. Steube, R-Fla.) would require the continuation of controls on exports to Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
Investment. S. 168 (introduced Jan. 31 by Sen. Rounds, R-S.D.) and H.R. 683 (introduced Jan. 31 by Rep. Stefanik, R-N.Y.) would add the secretary of agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and require that CFIUS review certain agricultural transactions.
H.R. 813 (introduced Feb. 2 by Rep. Pence, R-Ind.) would direct the Department of Commerce to lead an interagency review of, and report to Congress on, ways to increase the global competitiveness of the U.S. in attracting foreign direct investment.
Product Safety. S. 238 (introduced Feb. 2 by Sen. Blumenthal, D-Conn.) and H.R. 823 (introduced Feb. 2 by Rep. Torres, D-N.Y.) would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue a consumer product safety standard for portable electric heating devices.
Sugar. H. Con. Res. 12 (introduced Feb. 1 by Rep. Carmack, R-Fla.) would express the sense of Congress that all direct and indirect subsidies that benefit the production or export of sugar by all major sugar-producing and -consuming countries should be eliminated.
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