State Department, Senate, and Commerce move on Xinjiang concerns
The State Department issued an updated supply chain advisory on Tuesday stressing the potential legal implications for companies that fail to sever ties with partners and investments in Xinjiang given human rights concerns. The advisory does not have the force of law but enumerates existing US laws requiring corporate due diligence. It also includes a list of industries reportedly using forced labor in Xinjiang, and links...
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July 15th, 2021
July 8th, 2021
What to expect from Congress on China this summer
Congress was out of session this past week but is expected to return after the weekend. The Senate will begin holding votes and committee hearings on Monday, July 12, while the House is not scheduled to hold floor votes until at least Monday, July 19. While most agenda items are not China-related, Congress is expected to continue considering several proposals and nominations with implications for US companies that do business in China...
July 1st, 2021
House markup reveals deep partisan divisions on China foreign policy
After hours of debate, the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) appears unlikely to forward the EAGLE Act to the full House on a bipartisan basis. The EAGLE Act is the House’s answer to the Senate’s Strategic Competition Act—a pillar of the recently passed US Innovation and Competition Act (USICA). During debate, the EAGLE Act drew fierce criticism from Republicans who repeatedly called it a “trojan horse” for...
June 24th, 2021
Biden administration blacklists Xinjiang polysilicon companies over forced labor
On Thursday, three Biden administration agencies took action against five polysilicon and solar companies as part of a whole of government approach to address forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
The Commerce Department placed Hoshine Silicon Industry Company and four other Chinese companies on the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Entity List, requiring a license to conduct...
June 17th, 2021
Biden uses Europe trip to build consensus on China
Framed broadly as an effort to rally allies in a battle between democracy and autocracy, President Biden’s week-long Europe trip laid the foundation for the administration's multilateral approach to addressing emerging challenges presented by China. Biden met with G7 and NATO allies, as well as other European leaders, before attending a US-Russia summit with President Vladimir Putin. During the trip, the European Union and United...
June 10th, 2021
Senate passes China package, uncertain prospects in the House
The US Innovation and Competition Act passed the Senate on Tuesday, 68–32. Nineteen Republicans voted in favor, a clear sign of bipartisan support as it heads to the House. President Joe Biden applauded the vote, saying that the bill reflects key aspects of his American Jobs Plan, and encouraging the House to advance the bill. Biden’s statement invoked the China challenge indirectly, noting that the United States is in...
June 3rd, 2021
US and China resume trade and economic engagement with Yellen and Tai talks
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Chinese Vice Premier and trade envoy Liu He met virtually to discuss US-China economic relations on Tuesday, less than a week after US Trade Representative Katherine Tai met with Liu. According to the Treasury Department, Yellen discussed the Biden administration’s plans for economic recovery and “frankly” tackled issues of concern in the US-China relationship. China’s...
May 28th, 2021
Biden to name Nicholas Burns as next ambassador to China as competition-oriented policy comes into focus
As a career diplomat with the US Foreign Service, Burns served as under secretary of state for political affairs from 2005-2008, and as ambassador to NATO from 2001-2005. While Burns is not a China specialist—most of his foreign policy experience pertains to Europe and the Middle East—his background with NATO may be indicative of the Biden administration’s approach to the US-China...
May 20th, 2021
Senate debating China package, aims to vote before May 28
This week, the Senate officially introduced the United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021, a comprehensive proposal to bolster US competitiveness vis-à-vis China based on Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) Endless Frontier Act and several China-related proposals from key committees. On Monday, lawmakers voted 86–11 to begin debate on the over 1400-page bill. All 11 votes against beginning debate were from...
May 13th, 2021
Senate could vote on China package as soon as next week
On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce Committee approved the now 570-page Endless Frontier Act with several amendments, teeing up the bill for a potential floor vote before the end of the Senate work period on May 28. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ) suggested the bill could be considered on the floor as soon as next week. While Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) applauded the...
