US lawmakers seek to end China's special trade status, import duty exemption

Source: Reuters

January 23, 2025 4:38 PM EST Updated 11 hours ago


WASHINGTON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill on Thursday that would revoke China's preferential trade status with the United States, phase in steep tariffs and end the "de minimis" exemption for low-value Chinese imports.

The bill, introduced by John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House of Representatives' select committee on China, comes after President Donald Trump issued a memo on Monday asking his cabinet to assess legislation on the Permanent Normal Trade Relations designation for Beijing.

Congress approved PNTR for China in 2000, paving the way for its entry into the World Trade Organization. But the U.S. has routinely found the large role of the state in China's economy, including hefty government subsidies for strategic industries, to violate the global trade body's rules.

Trump, who has railed against China's vast trade surplus with the U.S., has vowed more duties on Chinese goods.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us-lawmakers-seek-end-chinas-special-trade-status-import-exemption-2025-01-23/