Bipartisan Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Strengthen U.S. Trade Enforcement Against China

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, led by Republican Senator Todd Young and Democratic Senator Tina Smith, is introducing legislation to tighten trade enforcement laws and curb Chinese-backed companies from bypassing American duties by shifting production to other countries. The bill aims to grant the U.S. Commerce Department new tools to counter China’s trade practices and its Belt and Road Initiative, which has expanded China’s economic influence across Asia, Europe, and Africa. A companion bill is also being introduced in the House of Representatives.

The proposed legislation strengthens antidumping rules, expedites anti-circumvention inquiries, and allows the Commerce Department to apply countervailing duty laws to international subsidies. It also seeks to address currency manipulation and imports of goods like kitchen cabinets from China. The American Iron and Steel Institute praised the bill, citing concerns about “cross-border subsidization,” where foreign governments subsidize industries in multiple countries to evade trade restrictions.

This move follows President Donald Trump’s recent decision to raise tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to a flat 25%, effective March 4. While China directly exports minimal steel to the U.S., American steelmakers argue that China’s subsidized overproduction forces other countries to increase exports, enabling Chinese steel to enter the U.S. through third-party nations. In 2023, steel imports made up about 23% of U.S. steel consumption, while domestic aluminum production continued to decline.

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