Hinson Commends Judiciary Passage of the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act

Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee passed the bipartisan Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act out of committee with unanimous bipartisan support. Introduced by Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) earlier this Congress, the legislation aims to combat the fraud, duty evasion, and transshipment frequently committed by Chinese companies by directing the DOJ to establish a new structure dedicated to prosecuting international trade crimes. This will enhance U.S. capabilities for detecting, investigating, and prosecuting trade fraud, duty evasion, transshipment, and other trade-related crimes.

"Committee passage of my bipartisan Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act is a significant step forward and important victory for American workers. Communist China has blatantly violated U.S. trade laws and ripped off American workers without consequences for too long, gutting rural manufacturing towns and enabling CCP forced labor. This bipartisan bill will ensure we finally crack down on Communist China’s illicit trade practices so that we can reshore American manufacturing. I appreciate the support of Chairman Jordan, Chairman Moolenaar, and Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi as we work to get this bill passed and signed into law." - Congresswoman Ashley Hinson

“I am grateful to Chairman Jordan and Ranking Member Nadler for passing the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2024 out of the Judiciary Committee today on an overwhelming bipartisan basis. This excellent bipartisan bill will protect U.S. companies and workers by strengthening our country’s efforts to prosecute trade crimes, including fraud, duty evasion, and shipping from other countries to avoid our laws. This legislation was included in the Select Committee’s bipartisan policy recommendations last year, and I am committed to working with Rep. Ashley Hinson, Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi, Chairman Cole, and the Department of Justice to deliver funding to implement this legislation." - Chairman John Moolenaar

“For years, the CCP’s predatory trade policies have violated American trade laws and taken advantage of American companies, workers, and consumers through trade crimes like dumping, duty evasion, and fraud. The bipartisan passage of our bill today through the Judiciary Committee is a critical step toward holding perpetrators criminally liable for these illegal activities. I look forward to working with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to make sure this bill becomes law so that the Department of Justice receives the resources it needs to stand up the new enforcement unit outlined in our bill." - Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi

Background:  

Companies based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) frequently commit crimes violating U.S. trade laws, including trade fraud, duty evasion, and transshipment, which benefit the PRC’s non-market economy and undermine U.S. companies and workers. Countless Americans have lost their jobs due to this criminal activity. Despite the large volume of trade crime-related cases, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has under-resourced its prosecution of these crimes. 

Rep. Hinson's Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act:

• Establishes a new task force or similar structure within the DOJ’s Criminal Division to investigate and prosecute trade-related crimes.
• Enhances nationwide responses to trade-related offenses by providing training and technical assistance to other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, expanding investigations and prosecutions, and allowing for parallel criminal and civil enforcement actions.
• Requires the Attorney General to submit an annual report to Congress assessing the DOJ’s efforts, statistics on trade-related crimes, and fund utilization.

Original co-sponsors of this bill include House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), as well as Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL), Glenn Ivey (D-LA), Nate Moran (R-TX), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Ben Cline (R-VA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Kevin Kiley (R-CA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), and Lou Correa (D-CA).

Click HERE to read bill text.

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