U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) on Wednesday proposed legislation that would both promote United States trade leadership in the Indo-Pacific region and require a report on the long-term economic and trade relationship between the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China.
The U.S. Trade Leadership in the Indo-Pacific and China Act, H.R. 6114, which Rep. LaHood introduced alongside bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV), also aims to encourage passage of the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“I am proud to join my friend and Ways and Means colleague Congresswoman Carol Miller to introduce this legislation, which will compel the Biden administration to act to renew the Trade Promotion Authority and outline a long-term economic strategy and report to Congress on further United States engagement with China,” said Rep. LaHood.
If enacted, H.R. 6114 would direct the administration to make efforts to update trade agreements in the region and would direct the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to develop the long-term trade plan with China, the summary says.
“The United States must be a leader on trade in the Indo-Pacific as China seeks to exert influence in the region and throughout the globe,” said Rep. LaHood, adding that H.R. 6114 “utilizes 21st-century trade tools to strengthen our global competitiveness and ensure the world follows America’s lead, not China’s.”
Specifically, H.R. 6114 states that the U.S. should play a sustained role in establishing an open, rules-based trading system in the Indo-Pacific by improving and joining an existing plurilateral trade agreement, updating existing regional trade agreements, or negotiating new high-standard trade agreements.
Additionally, the USTR would be directed to follow TPA consultation requirements regarding any further trade negotiations with China; to submit a report to Congress that articulates and identifies the long-term trade and economic plan with China; to assess the current Section 301 tariffs in place against China; and to list new enforcement tools that would require China to make structural reforms, among other provisions, according to the summary.
“I’m pleased to work with Congressman LaHood in introducing this important trade legislation,” said Rep. Miller. “This is necessary to provide clarity regarding America’s presence in the region, as well as a clear-eyed economic plan for the U.S and China.”