Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced Tuesday the introduction of a bill that could significantly alter U.S.-China relations, according to a report from Politico.
The legislation revokes China’s normal trade relations status with the U.S. and is the first bill of Hawley’s “Worker’s Agenda to Rebuild America.”
The bill would allow the U.S. to place higher tariffs on Chinese imports and authorize the president to impose even higher tax rates on select imports.
It must be enacted within two years.
The timing of the bill comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week.
The U.S. has advised Chinese leadership to not provide Russia with lethal support in their war against Ukraine.
Hawley said in a statement, “As we face a new age of competition with China, we need an agenda in Washington that will make our working class strong and independent. We can start by revoking the sweetheart deal D.C. elites handed to China 23 years ago – end normal trade relations, put in place strong tariffs, and protect American workers.”
