SINO-US TRADE

House of Representatives Democrats on 25 January unveiled draft legislation that includes a number of provisions of potential interest to Hong Kong and mainland Chinese exporters. The legislation may undergo various changes, some of them significant, before it is put up for a vote in the House as early as the week beginning on 31 January. If the bill is approved, it would have to be reconciled with the Senate version at conference. More

Legislation introduced by House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chair Earl Blumenauer on 18 January 2022 would amend Section 321 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to require low-value imports from mainland China, which currently enter the U.S. duty free, to pay regular import duty as well as any applicable Section 301 and Section 232 tariffs. More

U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne P. Clark recently acknowledged that mainland China “continues to rise as a formidable commercial and strategic competitor.” She said that, while “there is no easy answer” when it comes to mainland China, the U.S. “must compete vigorously around the world”, stand up for its values and security and against unfair trading and regulatory practices, and co-operate on critical global challenges such as sustainability and public health. More

U.S. importers continue to see heightened scrutiny by U.S. Customs and Border Protection of supply chain changes made in response to the Section 301 tariffs on goods imported from mainland China. More