WASHINGTON, D.C. – After concluding a lengthy two-year review process, the Biden Administration’s Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the decision to keep President Trump’s Section 301 tariffs in place to combat China’s unfair trade practices. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) issued the following statement:

“Only the Biden Administration would need over two years to figure out that the Trump tariffs combatting China’s unfair trade practices were, in fact, a good thing. That it took President Biden’s team so long to review the tariffs is inexcusable – particularly given the fact that it took the Trump Administration a mere eight months to conclude its investigation that prompted the tariffs in the first place. 

“There was no reason to leave the issue in limbo for so long, but unfortunately, the Biden Administration has shown a remarkable willingness to give China the benefit of the doubt when it is obvious to the American people that we need to do more, not less, to combat that country’s malign influence on the world stage. There has been no enforcement of the China Phase One Agreement under the Biden Administration, despite acknowledgment that China has violated its end of the deal. With the release of this review, it is clear that the Administration’s top priority when it comes to Section 301 enforcement is to serve its Green New Deal climate agenda, as this announcement lacks comprehensive updates to hold China accountable across the board. As we have done throughout this Congress, Republicans will continue to push for U.S. trade policies that put American workers and manufacturers first.”

Today’s announcement by the Biden Administration follows a Ways and Means Committee hearing in April when USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai was asked when the Biden Administration would finally complete its review of the Section 301 tariffs and a letter sent last week by Chairman Smith and Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith (NE-03) demanding the Administration conclude its review of the Trump tariffs on China as soon as possible and noting that the review process related to these tariffs has been underway for two years (since it was initiated in May 2022).