Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., reintroduced the Fighting Trade Cheats Act, which would allow domestic manufacturers to sue foreign producers for customs fraud. It would double penalties, and establish a five-year prohibition on importing products from past violators.
More than a fifth of House Democrats, led by Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., asked President Donald Trump to reconsider broad tariffs on Canada and Mexico because of the inflationary impact they would have on housing construction.
All Senate Finance Committee Republicans, joined by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., voted on Feb. 12 to approve the nomination of Jamieson Greer to be the next U.S. trade representative. The vote was 15-12 in favor of the nomination.
Four senators, two from each party, reintroduced a bill that would authorize the U.S. trade representative, in consultation with Congress about objectives, to negotiate specialized trade agreements focused on critical minerals and rare earth elements. Those trade agreements also would need to get a vote of approval from Congress before they could enter into force.
The House Select Committee on China is getting six new members -- four Republicans, two Democrats -- in the new 119th Congress, lawmakers announced last week. The Republicans are Reps. Gus Bilirakis of Florida, Young Kim of California, Nathaniel Moran of Texas and Zach Nunn of Iowa. The Democrats are Reps. Greg Stanton of Arizona and Jill Tokuda of Hawaii. Reps. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., have been reappointed chairman and ranking member, respectively.
A half-dozen House members reintroduced a bill this week. to grant Kazakhstan permanent normal trade relations status. The former Soviet republic does receive most favored nation treatment, but must certify its compliance under the Jackson-Vanik amendment each year.
House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee ranking member Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., declined to say if she'd join forces with colleagues who want to end the president's ability to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, but said, "I certainly think they're on the right track."
The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing Feb. 6 to consider the nomination of Jamieson Greer to be the U.S. trade representative. Greer was the chief of staff in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative during President Donald Trump's first term in office.
Two Democrats have introduced a bill in the Senate that, if it becomes law, would prevent a president from levying tariffs on free-trade partners, on NATO members and on major non-NATO allies without congressional approval.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology would have to develop a methodology for identifying the country of origin of red snapper and some species of imported tuna, if a bipartisan bill re-introduced in the Senate becomes law.