Congress urged to craft lasting trade rules to curb China's global advantage
A policy analyst argues that only a bipartisan, congressional framework can permanently tighten U.S. trade enforcement and counter China’s manufacturing dominance.
China’s trade policy, which blends economic growth with geopolitical goals, has flooded global markets with cheap goods, eroding rival manufacturing bases and weakening their diplomatic leverage. While both parties in Washington recognize the challenge, the author contends that shifting executive priorities undermine long-term effectiveness. Recent legislative moves, like the 2025 repeal of the $800 de minimis threshold, have begun to address unfair advantages, yet further action is needed.
The article urges Congress to make permanent the 2026 customs enforcement order, adopt the Customs Modernization Act to modernize filing and analytics, and pass the Americas Act to promote near-shoring and create an Americas Investment Corporation as a counter to China’s Belt and Road. Additionally, a Foreign Pollution Fee is proposed to charge importers for the environmental cost savings China enjoys. Together, these measures would safeguard U.S. industry, protect national security, and establish a trade strategy that survives political cycles.
Why it matters
A stable, Congress-led trade policy could protect U.S. jobs and security from China’s low-cost manufacturing edge.
In this story
