It is almost hard to quantify the interest in China across the policy ecosystem in Washington, DC. Close to 1400 pieces of legislation (bills, resolutions, and amendments) have been filed during the 118th Congress that have some level of focus on China. Candidates on the campaign trail, especially those at the top of the ticket, are jockeying for who has the strongest China policy. Policy issues related to China – from trade to national security (and many in between) – are still some of the most bipartisan across Congress. At the same time, the Biden Administration is working to increase communication with the leadership of China and reduce the number of areas where they are not aligned. It is a complicated and fluid policy space.
Soon after Congress returns to DC, Speaker Johnson (R-LA) has committed to passing a variety of bills focused on China policy, many of which change policies to reduce reliance on Chinese imports, strengthen enforcement of existing trade policies and export controls, and limit China investment in the U.S. (in addition to other policy areas). Several will be considered under a rule with the possibility of amendments and many other will reportedly be considered under suspension of the rules (2/3 majority needed for passage).
While the Senate has introduced many pieces of legislation related to China policy, there seems to be limited coordination on this legislative effort – both content of the policies and timing of their consideration. Since both Republican and Democratic Senate candidates have been touting a variety of policies related to China on the campaign trail, there would certainly be some interest there.
How this package of bills ultimately comes together (and what potentially gets added) is somewhat unknown, but there is real momentum on moving policies related to China, with both policy and political benefit.
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