For more information on pursuing trade policy interests through the legislative process, please contact Nicole Bivens Collinson at (202) 730-4956 or via email.
Tariffs. Two House Democrats sent a letter to President Trump Dec. 8 urging him to reconsider tariffs on Japan, “particularly in sectors directly affected by the coercive actions” of China. The letter asserts that “Beijing’s actions – including import suspensions, tourism and visa restrictions, informal pressure on critical industries, and dangerous military maneuvers near Okinawa - threaten Japan’s economic stability and undermine broader security and strategic interests across the Indo-Pacific.”
Trade preferences. The House Ways and Means Committee approved Dec. 10 separate bills that would reinstate for three years the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Haiti HOPE and HELP acts. Press sources indicated that these measures do not include any reforms or changes to these trade preference programs.
AD/CVD. The Strengthening Trade Enforcement and Evasion Limitations Act (H.R. 6446, introduced Dec. 8 by Reps. Kelly, R-Pa., and Deluzio, D-Pa.) would allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection to self-initiate investigations under the Enforce And Protect Act of claims of evasion of antidumping and countervailing duty orders.
Export controls. The ADVERSARIES Act (H.R. 6331, introduced Dec. 1 by Rep. Miller, R-Ohio) would broaden the authority of the Bureau of Industry and Security to place companies that threaten U.S. national security on the Entity List by changing the definition of “foreign person” under the Export Control Reform Act to include all 1260-H list Chinese military companies, military end-user list companies, Entity List companies, and their subsidiaries or affiliates owned 50 percent or more.
Semiconductors. The Chip Equipment Quality, Usefulness, and Integrity Protection Act (S. 3301, introduced Dec. 2 by Sens. Kelly, D-Ariz., and Blackburn, R-Tenn.) would clarify that projects using funding from the CHIPS and Science Act cannot purchase specialized semiconductor manufacturing tools made by entities owned or controlled by adversaries such as China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
The Secure and Feasible Exports of Chips Act (S. 3374, introduced Dec. 4 by Sens. Ricketts, R-Neb., and Coons, D-Del.) would direct the Department of Commerce to deny export license applications for advanced chips to foreign adversary countries for at least 30 months. Such countries would include North Korea, Russia, Iran, and China, including Hong Kong and Macau, and “advanced chips” would include any chips more powerful than those currently licensed for export to such countries.
Cargo theft. The Cargo Security Innovation Act (S. 3376, introduced Dec. 4 by Sens. Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Klobuchar, D-Minn.) would require the Transportation Security Administration to establish a pilot project to evaluate the effectiveness of advanced technologies to combat cargo theft. A press release notes that cargo theft jumped 57 percent in 2023, with reported losses topping $400 million.
Solar panels. The Keep China Out of Solar Energy Act (S. 3320, introduced Dec. 3 by Sen. Scott, R-Fla.) would prohibit federal procurement of solar panels manufactured or assembled in China.
Shipping. H.R. 6410 (introduced Dec. 3 by Rep. Rouzer, R-N.C.) would establish navigation safety corridors for shipping safety fairways and complementary port approaches.
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