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Washington, DC - Congresswoman Hinson (IA-02) introduced the bipartisan Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act. Original co-sponsors of this bill are Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), 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), Nate Moran (R-TX), Ben Cline (R-VA), Kevin Kiley (R-CA), Glenn Ivey (D-LA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Deborah Ross (D-NC), and Lou Correa (D-CA).
Companies based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) frequently commit crimes violating U.S. trade laws including 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, theU.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has under-resourced its prosecution of these crimes.
This legislation aims to combat these crimes 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.
"For decades, Communist China has blatantly violated U.S. trade laws and ripped off American workers with no accountability or consequences. This has led to shuttered factories and devastating job losses across the country, hollowing out American industry and gutting rural manufacturing towns while enabling the CCP's forced labor practices. My bipartisan legislation will ensure we finally crack down on Communist China's illicit trade practices so that we can reshore American manufacturing and provide opportunities for American workers." - Congresswoman Ashley Hinson
“Not a week goes by without the Committee learning of yet another American company harmed by Chinese companies shipping their goods through other countries to illegally evade tariffs. While heightened tariff rates can help level the playing field for U.S. businesses, the legislation we are introducing today adds teeth to the tariffs and punishes companies for breaking the law. I’m proud to join Rep. Ashely Hinson in co-sponsoring this crucial legislation that will give law enforcement the power to hold CCP trade criminals accountable and will support American businesses who are the victims of these crimes.” - Chairman John Moolenaar
“For years, the Chinese Communist Party’s predatory trade policies have violated American trade laws and victimized American companies, workers, and consumers through trade crimes like dumping, duty evasion, and fraud. Our bipartisan legislation cracks down on these crimes by establishing a new unit at the Department of Justice dedicated to enforcing U.S. trade laws and holding perpetrators criminally liable for these illegal activities. Whether it is dumping below-market iron and steel, flooding the American market with illegal vapes, or violating the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, we must send an unmistakable message to companies based in the People’s Republic of China that their illegal trade practices must end now.” - Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi
Supporting organizations include: American Iron and Steel Institute, National Council of Textile Organizations, Alliance for American Manufacturing, United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO, Campaign for Uyghurs, American Shrimp Processors Association, Coalition for a Prosperous America, and America First Policy Institute.
Background:
- 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.
- Authorizes $20,000,000 for FY 2025 to support these efforts with appropriate guardrails.
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