To end what he calls China’s unfair international advantages, U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) on Dec. 6 sponsored legislation that would end the treatment of the People’s Republic of China as a “developing nation.”
“China has the second largest economy in the world and is on track to surpass the U.S. economically,” Sen. Romney said. “It’s absurd that, given their defense expenditures and massive amount of outbound and inbound foreign investment, China continues to be treated as a developing nation on the global stage.”
The senator introduced the Ending China’s Developing Nation Status Act, S. 5190, which also would prevent the granting of “developing nation” status to China in future treaties and international organizations, according to a bill summary provided by his staff.
“The U.S. should not enter into treaties or international organizations where China is given an unfair advantage, whether it be accommodations or financial assistance, under such false pretenses,” said Sen. Romney, ranking member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy.
Additionally, S. 5190 would direct the U.S. Secretary of State to pursue changing the status of China to “developed nation” in treaties or organizations where a mechanism for change exists, the summary says.
If enacted, S. 5190 also would require a report by the U.S. Secretary of State to Congress on any treaties under consideration by the administration that would confer different standards based on developing nation status with China being considered as a member of the treaty, according to the summary.
The proposed bill builds upon an amendment offered by U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) that was unanimously adopted by the U.S. Senate in September that would condition the Senate’s ratification of updates to the Montreal Protocol on the U.S. taking action to remove China’s designation as a developing nation, the senator’s office said.
S. 5190 has been referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for consideration.