In recent months, there have been growing calls to revoke China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. This issue has gained significant attention, with President Donald Trump requesting his Cabinet members to assess legislative proposals regarding PNTR on the first day of his second term. Just three days later, Republican Representative John Moolenaar and Democratic lawmaker Tom Suozzi introduced a bipartisan bill to revoke China’s PNTR status. This is a significant step in addressing the unfair trade practices and other concerns that the United States has with China.
China has held PNTR status since 2000, when Congress first passed legislation on the matter. Prior to that, Beijing’s trade status was reviewed annually. However, in light of recent events, it is clear that a more rigorous and thorough approach is needed. This is why the call to revoke China’s PNTR status has grown louder in recent months.
In an exclusive interview with VOA, Republican Representative Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin, who has also proposed legislation with Republican lawmaker Chris Smith to revoke China’s PNTR status, shared his views on the current state of U.S.-China relations and the urgent steps that need to be taken to address the issues.
When asked about the current state of U.S.-China relations, Representative Tiffany expressed his concern that the goodwill of the American people has been abused by China. He highlighted the theft of intellectual property, the establishment of police stations in various cities across the U.S., and other unfair trade practices as examples of China’s exploitation of America’s consumer base.
To address these issues, Representative Tiffany believes that revoking China’s PNTR status and having it renewed on an annual basis will bring greater accountability from the Chinese government. He emphasized that this is one of the most important steps that can be taken to protect American interests and ensure fair trade practices.
Representative Tiffany also shared a personal example of how China’s actions have affected his district in Wisconsin. He mentioned that China has used the import of ginseng, a major crop in northern Wisconsin, as a weapon in trade negotiations. This has not only affected the economy of the district but has also been used as a political weapon to turn ginseng growers against Republicans and President Trump.
When asked about his support for imposing tariffs on Chinese goods, Representative Tiffany stated that he agrees with the use of tariffs and believes in the idea of reciprocal tariffs. He stressed the importance of free and fair trade and the need for China to be held accountable for its actions.
In addition to addressing unfair trade practices, Representative Tiffany also highlighted the need for China to provide a full accounting of the abuse of the Uyghur people in Western China and the origins of the coronavirus. He believes that these issues need to be addressed for a better relationship between the two countries.
Looking towards the future, Representative Tiffany is hopeful that with the policies of President Trump, there is potential for good relations between the U.S. and China. However, he also acknowledges that China’s ruling communist party may choose to continue with their current practices, which would be unfortunate.
In conclusion, the call to revoke China’s PNTR status is a significant step in addressing the various concerns that the U.S. has with China. The actions taken by China have not only affected American interests but have also raised questions about their treatment of their own people and the origin of a global pandemic. It is time for China to be held accountable for its actions and for a fair and balanced trade relationship to be established between the two countries. The revocation of PNTR is a necessary measure to ensure that the interests of the American people are protected and that China respects the importance of fair trade. With a strong America, there is potential for better relations between the two countries in the future.
