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Read. Follow. Verify.China Trade Relations Act of 2025
Last action · February 21, 2025: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.Sponsors: Christopher Smith and 2 others
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What This Bill Would Do
This bill proposes to revoke '' status for the People's Republic of China. It would require the President to certify that China meets specific human rights and labor standards before trade privileges, U.S. credit programs, or commercial agreements could be restored.
If passed, this bill would fundamentally change the legal framework for U.S.-China trade, likely resulting in higher tariffs on Chinese imports and restricting U.S. government-backed credit or investment guarantees for Chinese entities.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
U.S. Importers
Businesses importing goods from China would face potential tariff increases if normal trade relations are withdrawn.
Chinese Government
The government would be subject to new reporting requirements and potential loss of U.S. credit and investment guarantees.
U.S. Exporters
Exporters may face retaliatory trade measures or loss of access to the Chinese market.
Key Facts
- The bill immediately withdraws 'normal trade relations' status from the People's Republic of China upon enactment.
- Future trade relations would be subject to the requirements of Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974.
- The President is prohibited from concluding commercial agreements or providing credit/investment guarantees to China if they are found in violation of specific human rights or labor standards.
- Specific criteria for ineligibility include: use of prison labor, operation of 'vocational training' or concentration camps, economic espionage, and failure to protect religious/cultural heritage in Tibet.
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- The President must submit reports to Congress on June 30 and December 31 of each year regarding China's compliance with these standards.
- The President is granted authority to waive these restrictions for 12-month periods if they determine it promotes the bill's objectives and receive assurances of future compliance.
- A temporary 90-day waiver authority is established upon enactment to bridge the transition period.
- The bill expands the scope of the Trade Act of 1974 to explicitly include 'human rights' alongside 'east-west trade' in its section heading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'normal trade relations' mean?
Does this bill permanently ban trade with China?
Can the President bypass these restrictions?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 21, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Feb 21, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Return to Cold War-era Trade Framework
The bill explicitly seeks to re-apply Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974, which was the primary mechanism for managing trade with the Soviet Union and other non-market economies during the Cold War.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.congress.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance95How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy90Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz75Current news / social attention level
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