For more information on pursuing trade policy interests through the legislative process, please contact Nicole Bivens Collinson.
China. S. 4609 (introduced Sept. 17 by Sen. Cotton, R-Ark.) would withdraw permanent normal trade relations treatment from products of China and require Congress and the president to decide annually whether to extend NTR treatment to such goods. This bill would also expand the list of human rights and trade abuses that would disqualify China for NTR status without a presidential waiver.
Forced Labor. The House Rules Committee was expected to advance Sept. 21 the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (H.R. 6210), which would (1) require the president to determine whether “reasonable grounds exist” to conclude that forced labor under section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 exists in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and (2) if such a conclusion is made, require corporations to prove with “clear and convincing evidence” that any imported products sourced from the XUAR are not made with forced labor.
The committee is also expected to forward to the House floor the Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act (H.R. 6270), which would require U.S.-traded companies that do business in the XUAR to review and disclose information about their supply chains, including whether goods are made in or sourced from internment camps or factories implicated in forced labor practices. If companies are importing goods produced via forced labor they would additionally be required to disclose the nature and extent to which forced labor was related to the product, what the gross revenue and net profits attributable to those goods were, and whether the company intends to continue the importation of those goods.
PPE. S. 4578 (introduced Sept. 15 by Sen. Portman, R-Ohio) would provide for domestic sourcing of personal protective equipment.
Taiwan. H. Con. Res. 117 (introduced Sept. 16 by Rep. Tiffany, R-Wis.) expresses 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.
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