WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today reintroduced the Fighting Trade Cheats Act, legislation to hold China and other bad actors accountable for unfair trade practices that destroy American jobs. Bost’s bill takes aim at companies dumping foreign-made goods in U.S. markets by allowing U.S. manufacturers to sue foreign producers for customs fraud.
“The Chinese Communist Party has repeatedly shown a blatant disregard for trade agreements whilestealing American jobs,” said Bost. “We’re strengthening our trade laws to give our manufacturers the support they need to stand up to unfair trade practices. This is America First legislation sends a clear message to foreign competitors who break our trade laws: harm American workers, and you will face serious consequences.”
“It should come as no surprise that China has targeted American manufacturing by illegally circumventing American trade laws," said Charlie Hartman, General Counsel McWane, Inc. "What is surprising is that such circumvention has become so commonplace that companies are openly advertising how to flout American trade laws on the internet. President Trump has made the trade imbalance a priority for his administration, as he rightly should. Congressman Bost is ensuring Trump’s success in trade by making sure that these trade circumventers feel the full bite of our Customs and Border Patrol enforcement by helping remove bureaucratic hurdles that stand in the way of stopping this illegal activity. Mike Bost is leader on trade in Washington who will help President Trump protect well-paying American jobs.”
The Fighting Trade Cheats Act will provide necessary updates to America’s existing trade laws and the penalties in place for violating them. The legislation more than doubles the penalties currently in place, providing a serious deterrent for bad actors looking to undermine American manufacturers. It also includes a new five-year prohibition on importing products from known violators.
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