The Senate Appropriations Committee issued its proposal for funding the Department of Homeland Security, asserting its bill could get the bipartisan support needed to pass that chamber. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has previously said he would prefer to delay spending decisions until next year, when the House, Senate and White House will have Republican majorities. However, some observers believe Republicans would be better served by passing during the lame-duck session appropriations for the fiscal year that goes through September, freeing up Congress to spend its time in 2025 on the massive tax bill and other policy Trump administration priorities (see 2411120026).

House Select Committee on China Chairman Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., proposes increasing tariffs on nearly all Chinese goods to at least 35% and raising tariffs on "strategic goods" to 100%, with exceptions only for goods that are currently sourced only from China.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., asked the Federal Trade Commission to enforce its truth in advertising laws so that Chinese-made American flags aren't advertised as “Made in the USA” when they are listed for sale on e-commerce platforms.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., wrote to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, arguing that CBP is not enforcing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act he co-authored, as pharmaceuticals made in Xinjiang are entering the U.S.

The chairman of the House Select Committee on China welcomed a new report from Horizon Advisory that said the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act have spurred investments in advanced battery production and critical minerals recycling, which "carry great promise but they will be for naught if the U.S. does not recognize and counter China's state-backed market dominance and manipulations with additional investments, stronger protective measures, and stringent enforcement mechanisms."

Four Democratic senators are asking the Treasury Department to end de minimis treatment for all e-commerce shipments, arguing that the regulations under development to restrict de minimis would not go far enough to curtail fentanyl smuggling.

Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., issued a release Oct. 25 asking his colleagues to change the law so that Kazakhstan can receive permanent normal trade relations, as Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and other former Soviet states do. Kazakhstan goods are subject to Column 1 tariffs, but that status must be renewed annually.

Virginia's and Maryland's senators, along with members of Congress from both states, asked President Joe Biden to direct the International Trade Commission to open a Section 201 investigation on harm to the Chesapeake Bay fisheries from a surge of crab meat imports from Venezuela.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., sent U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai a letter less than two weeks ahead of election day, asking her to quickly initiate a Section 301 investigation on Chinese support for fentanyl trafficking. Families of those who died from overdoses filed a petition last week (see 2410180039).

There has been some concern that South Africa could be removed from the African Growth and Opportunity Act beneficiary list over its government's lack of support for Ukraine after Russia invaded (see 2307120041). Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who voted against sending financial and military aid to Ukraine earlier this year, is arguing that South Africa should be booted from AGOA coverage if Taiwan's diplomatic office is closed in Pretoria. The South African government has demanded that Taiwan move its office to Johannesburg, the country's most important commercial city. Taiwan has so far refused.