Ways and Means Committee Takes Bipartisan Action to Stand Up for American Workers Against China’s Unfair Trade Practices
WASHINGTON, DC – For years, China has been dodging American tariffs on solar products by exporting them to the United States through Southeast Asia, hurting American energy jobs and leaving our supply chain in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. Committee Republicans and Democrats adopted House Joint Resolution 39, reversing the White House’s misguided decision to allow Chinese companies to export solar products through Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam in Southeast Asia to the United States without additional tariffs for two years.
“Today, the Ways and Means Committee took bipartisan action to reverse the Biden Administration’s decision to allow more unfair solar imports from China into the United States. By shipping solar products through Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, China is obviously circumventing American tariffs designed to ensure a level playing field for American workers. Even the Biden Commerce Department determined that Chinese companies are shipping products through these four countries to avoid those very tariffs. The Committee’s action today was an important step to ensure the United States maintains crucial protections for American workers and our economy as a whole.
“Concern for China’s behavior is shared by members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. Congress must act to hold accountable bad actors in global trade and, in particular, Chinese wrongdoing.”
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.
- H.J. Res 39, the Congressional Review Act Resolution on Solar Tariffs stops the Commerce Department from implementing the Final Rule effectuating President Biden’s Proclamation and prevents the issuance of any substantially similar rule.