(TargetLiberty.org) – Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has introduced new legislation that would end the normalized trade relationship between the U.S. and China within the next two years as the tension between the two countries has increased.
According to Hawley’s office, the bill is going to be introduced on Tuesday and it would allow the U.S. to impose higher import tariffs on Chinese products, while also letting the President decide on even higher tax rates for certain imports.
The normalized trade relationship between the two countries was established in 2000. Since that time China has become America’s leading trade partner with close to $560 billion in two-way trade in 2020.
Former President Donald Trump opposed the trade relationship with China stating that the U.S. was in a trade deficit with China. In 2020 the trade deficit was over $285 billion.
Many congressional Republicans are pushing for the Biden administration to show more strength in dealing with the Chinese government. The relationship between the two countries is particularly tense right now following the Chinese spy balloon which after flying across the U.S. was shot down off the coast of the Carolinas.
The bill comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Russian President Vladimir Putin. The U.S. has repeatedly warned the Chinese leadership to not provide any lethal aid to Russia that could aid them in their war against Ukraine.
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