Missouri Senator Josh Hawley will introduce a bill before the US Congress that would revoke China’s most-favored-nation status in two years. The bill has three main objectives: to revoke China’s normal trade relations status, subject China’s imports to higher tariff rates, and give the president the authority to further increase these tariffs. The bill is part of the senator’s “Working People’s Agenda to Rebuild America,” which seeks to favor US industry and distance business from China. Hawley’s bill is the first on his agenda and seeks to end normal trade relations with China and establish strong tariffs to protect US workers.
The United States granted China normal trade relations status permanently in 2000 and supported China’s entry into the World Trade Organization a year later. According to Hawley, providing China with privileged trade status contributed to the loss of 3.7 million jobs in US manufacturing industries. The senator has already proposed other measures to limit ties with China, such as banning TikTok on federal devices and throughout the country or preventing Chinese corporations from owning US farmland.
In April 2022, President Joe Biden already signed a bill depriving Russia and Belarus of most-favored-nation status in trade. The measure allows Washington to increase tariffs on products imported from Russia and Belarus until January 1, 2024, which causes the prices of these items to rise, reducing their competitiveness in the market.