Diyar Guldogan
23 January 2025•Update: 23 January 2025
WASHINGTON
A pair of US lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill Thursday that would revoke China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR).
It comes after President Donald Trump's new executive order directed the secretary of commerce and the US Trade Representative to assess legislative proposals regarding Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China.
Trump said Tuesday that he is considering imposing 10% tariffs on Chinese imports into the US beginning Feb. 1.
"We’re talking about a tariff of 10% on China based on the fact that they’re sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada," he told reporters.
Reps. John Moolenaar alongside Tom Suozzi introduced the legislation. A companion bill was introduced by Sens. Tom Cotton and Jim Banks. New Secretary of State Marco Rubio was an original co-sponsor of the bill when it was introduced in November.
Moolenaar said the Restoring Trade Fairness Act is a "critical step" toward ending the "unfair economic practices" of the Chinese Communist Party that have hurt American workers and weakened national security.
"For too long, permanent normal trade relations with China have undermined our manufacturing base, shifted American jobs abroad, and allowed the CCP to exploit our markets while betraying the promise of fair competition.
"In response, this legislation will safeguard U.S. national security, enhance supply chain resilience, and bring manufacturing jobs back to America and our allies," said Moolenaar after the bill's introduction.
The bill would end China’s PNTR status and create a minimum 35% ad valorem tariff for non-strategic goods and a minimum of 100% ad valorem tariff for all strategic goods.
