Bill Would Close "Back Door" into Free Trade Agreements

China should no longer get a “free ride” and be able to “back door” imports via the current language in free trade agreements the U.S. has with other countries, said a trio of senators last week in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. The Market Economy Sourcing Act, sponsored by Sens. Bob Casey (Pa.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio) and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), is designed to prevent products, such as steel, from nonmarket economies from being imported as parts of larger components.

The measure is aimed primarily at China, which has a reputation for dumping and other unfair trade practices. “We must ensure our trade policies do not further entrench our supply chains with those of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and other non-market economies,” the letter stated.