New House Bill Could Limit U.S. Government Procurement of China Goods
On January 20, 2011, Representative Kildee (D) introduced the “Fix U.S. Government Contracting Deficit with China Act” (H.R. 375).
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Procurement of Chinese Goods Would be Restricted if Certain Conditions Met
According to a Congressional Research Service summary, H.R. 375 would:
Certification to Congress on state of U.S.-China gov’t procurement- direct the Secretary of Commerce to certify annually to Congress: (1) a determination of whether the Chinese government has prohibited its procurement of U.S. goods during the preceding calendar year; and (2) the total value of U.S. goods procured by the Chinese government during that year, if the Chinese government has not prohibited such procurement.
Prohibit procurement of Chinese goods if China prohibited U.S. goods - prohibit the head of each executive agency from awarding a contract for the procurement of Chinese goods during the succeeding calendar year if the Chinese government has prohibited procurement of U.S. goods during the preceding calendar year.
Prohibit states from using highway/air trust funds to procure China goods - direct the Secretary of Transportation (DOT), in such an instance, to prohibit a state or other entity from using funds made available to it from the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) or the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for the award of a contract for the procurement of Chinese goods during the succeeding calendar year.
Limit total value of Chinese goods that may be procured - limits the total value of Chinese goods that may be procured by the U.S. government during the succeeding calendar year to the total value of U.S. goods procured by the Chinese Government during the preceding calendar year, if in fact the Chinese government has not prohibited its procurement of U.S. goods during that preceding calendar year.
Require ITA program to ID goods procured from China, etc. - directs the International Trade Administration to establish a program to: (1) identify annually the total value of U.S. goods procured by the Chinese government; and (2) provide notice in the Federal Register on or as soon as practicable after the date on which the total value of Chinese goods procured by the U.S. government equals 50%, 75%, and 100% of the total value of U.S. goods procured by the Chinese government during the preceding calendar year, for purposes of compliance with the limitation required by this Act.
H.R. 375 available here
CRS summary available by emailing documents@brokerpower.com.