News Desk
WASHINGTON—A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced legislation to revoke China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status, a move that would mark a significant shift in U.S. trade policy amid ongoing tensions over Beijing’s economic practices.
The bill, unveiled Thursday, builds on Republican-led efforts to roll back China’s preferential trade status, reflecting growing concerns over what critics say are unfair trade practices. If passed, the legislation would impose new tariffs on Chinese imports, particularly targeting manufacturing sectors that lawmakers argue have suffered from competition with Beijing.
“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,” said Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), one of the bill’s sponsors.
Moolenaar, joined by Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), introduced the measure in the House, while Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) put forward a companion bill in the Senate. The effort follows broader bipartisan moves under both the Trump and Biden administrations to impose tariffs on Chinese goods in response to trade imbalances and national security concerns.
The proposed legislation, known as the Restoring Trade Fairness Act, would replace China’s PNTR status with a tiered tariff system. Non-strategic imports from China would face a 35 percent tariff, while strategic goods—defined in alignment with the Biden administration’s Advanced Technology Product List and China’s Made in China 2025 plan—would be subject to a 100 percent tariff. The revenue generated would be directed toward supporting U.S. farmers, manufacturers, and military investments in the Indo-Pacific region. The changes would be phased in over five years.
The push to revoke PNTR comes as former President Donald Trump has floated a blanket 60 percent tariff on Chinese imports and additional trade penalties on China for its alleged failure to curb fentanyl trafficking. Trump has also signaled potential tariffs on Russia and nations backing its war in Ukraine, a category that could include China.
Supporters of the new legislation argue that current trade relations have favored China at the expense of American industries. The bill represents the latest in a series of efforts to counter Beijing’s influence in global trade, though it is unclear whether the measure will gain traction in Congress amid broader political and economic considerations.
