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 China Trade Relations Act (S. 125, introduced Jan. 26 by Sen. Cotton, R-Ark.) would revoke permanent normal trade relations treatment for products of China. Cotton said this bill would require China to obtain NTR status through annual presidential approval (which could be overridden by Congress via a joint resolution) and expand the list of human rights and trade abuses that would disqualify China for NTR status absent a presidential waiver (including using or providing for the use of slave labor and engaging in systematic economic espionage against the U.S.).
Leadership. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., has been named chair of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee. Smith said that in this position he will “work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure we use every trade tool at our disposal to tackle supply chain and inflation crises, open new markets for American producers, and hold both our trading partners and bad actors accountable.” He also called for the immediate reauthorization of the miscellaneous trade bill and the Generalized System of Preferences. Committee Chair Jason
Smith, R-Mo., said the trade subcommittee will also “push back on the Biden Administration’s partisan trade moratorium that’s surrendered America’s trade leadership to China.”
Membership. Ways and Means Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-Mass.) announced that the following Democrats will join him on the committee: Lloyd Doggett (Texas), Mike Thompson (Calif.), John Larson (Conn.), Earl Blumenauer (Ore.), Bill Pascrell Jr. (N.J.), Danny Davis (Ill.), Linda Sánchez (Calif.), Brian Higgins (N.Y.), Terri Sewell (Ala.), Suzan DelBene (Wash.), Judy Chu (Calif.), Gwen Moore (Wis.), Dan Kildee (Mich.), Don Beyer (Va.), Dwight Evans (Pa.), Brad Schneider (Ill.), and Jimmy Panetta (Calif.).
Higgins, Kildee, Panetta, DelBene, Beyer, Sanchez, and Sewell will also serve on the Trade Subcommittee.
AD/CV Duties. S. 104 (introduced Jan. 26 by Sen. Rubio, R-Fla.) and H.R. 545 (introduced Jan. 26 by Rep. Buchanan, R-Fla.) would provide for the treatment of core seasonal industries affected by antidumping or countervailing duty investigations.
H.J.Res. 22 (introduced Jan. 26 by Reps. Posey, R-Fla., and Kildee, D-Mich.) would use the Congressional Review Act to rescind a recent Department of Commerce rule regarding the circumvention of AD/CV duties on solar products via transshipment through third countries.
Taiwan. H.Con.Res. 10 (introduced Jan. 25 by Rep. Tiffany, R-Wis.) would express the sense of Congress that the U.S. should resume normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement with Taiwan, and support Taiwan's membership in international organizations.
Labeling. The American Beef Labeling Act (S. 52, introduced Jan. 24 by Sens. Thune, R-S.D., and Tester, D-Mont.) would reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling requirements for beef. Specifically, the bill would require the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of Agriculture to jointly develop a World Trade Organization-compliant means of reinstating MCOOL for beef within one year (six months to develop the plan and six months to implement it). If USTR failed to do so, MCOOL would automatically be reinstated for beef only.
Exports. S. 77 (introduced Jan. 25 by Sen. Shaheen, D-N.H.) would reauthorize the State Trade Expansion Program of the Small Business Administration, which helps small businesses enter new markets, access export financing, and attend trade missions.
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