U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Todd Young Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Trade Laws, Protect American Workers

WASHINGTON –Yesterday, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced theLeveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act, legislation to strengthen U.S. trade remedy laws to fight against unfair trade practices and protect American workers.
The bill would improve the U.S. trade remedy system and respond to repeat offenders and serial cheaters, leveling the playing field for American workers. The bill also addresses China’s unfair trade practices, specifically its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which provides subsidies to China-based or China-operated companies doing business in countries outside of China. It would also update U.S. trade remedy laws to establish the new concept of “successive investigations,” which would improve the U.S. trade remedy system’s efforts to curb circumvention efforts from bad actors designed to undercut our domestic industries and increase market share.
Fair trade policies help workers, businesses, and farmers in Minnesota earn better incomes. But when countries don’t abide by international trade rules and aren’t held accountable, our workers lose out on jobs. This bill would help combat those bad actors and allow Minnesota producers and workers to remain competitive.
“For too long, foreign competitors like China have engaged in unfair trade practices that have undermined domestic industry and threatened our national security,”said Senator Smith.“This legislation provides more tools for the U.S. to stop illegal dumping and subsidies that have made it impossible for domestic producers and workers to compete. I’m glad to introduce the Leveling the Playing Field Act 2.0 with Senator Young to protect American workers like Minnesota’s Iron Rangers.”
“Our bill will protect American jobs and combat China’s unfair trade practices,”said Senator Young.“China has distorted the free market by dumping undervalued products and subsidizing industries, actions designed to harm American businesses and workers. This legislation will help level the playing field to ensure the United States can outcompete the Chinese Communist Party.”
American companies are on the receiving end of China’s increasingly predatory economic behavior. In recent years, China’s unfair trade practices have culminated in grave economic consequences that affect American workers. China’s BRI unfairly subsidizes products made in other countries, rather than just in China. In addition to competing with these unfair trade practices, American companies have to contend with long lead times before the Department of Commerce initiates a new anti-circumvention inquiry.
Around half of the unfair trade cases are in the steel industry. However, these unfair trade cases also affect industries that make engines, furniture, hardwood plywood, pipes and tubes, wood moldings, magnesium, paper, shrimp, carrier bags, kitchen cabinets, quartz countertops, tires, and many others.
TheLeveling the Playing Field 2.0 Actpushes back against China’s anti-free market practices by providing the Department of Commerce with more tools to stop circumvention tactics. These tools include:
In addition to Senators Smith and Young, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jon Fetterman (D-PA), Jim Banks (R-IN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Bernie Moreno (R-OH).
Full text of the legislation can be foundhere.
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