Washington, D.C. – Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) released the following statement after the U.S. Senate followed the U.S. House of Representatives in passing H.J.Res 39, bipartisan legislation to hold the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accountable and end its circumvention of U.S. tariff penalties on solar imports.
“Standing up to China is a bipartisan issue, and I am pleased the Senate followed the House of Representatives in voting to end the Biden Administration’s misguided rule that puts an activist green agenda ahead of U.S. workers and manufacturers. The CCP’s unfair trade practices have gone unchecked for far too long and this is an important step to retaking control of our critical supply chains and economic competitiveness.
“President Biden must listen to Congress, including members of his own party in both chambers, which voted to put the best interests of American workers before those of communist China. I urge the president to rethink his opposition and sign this legislation immediately.”
Key Background:
The Biden Administration is Giving a Free Pass to Unfair Chinese Solar Imports that Harm U.S. Producers
- In June 2022, President Biden issued an unprecedented Emergency Proclamation to allow imports of unfairly traded solar products from China into the U.S. with no additional tariffs for two years.
- This Proclamation disadvantages U.S. solar manufacturers and workers with unfair import competition while benefiting Chinese solar companies.
- This decision will have major implications for American manufacturers in a wide range of industries that rely on our trade laws to compete on a level playing field.
- In December 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce determined that China is circumventing U.S. tariffs by shipping solar products through Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
- J. Res 39, the Congressional Review Act Resolution on Solar Tariffs stops the implementation of the Final Rule effectuating President Biden’s Proclamation and prevents the issuance of any substantially similar rule.
- J. Res 39 passed the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support on May 3, 2023, with nine Democrats voting in favor. The bill previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support last week.