Mara Lee

Two Democrats and a Republican are asking the CEO of Shein, a fast-fashion powerhouse, about its use of de minimis and its purchases of Xinjiang cotton. All products made in Xinjiang are barred from entry to the U.S., unless importers can prove they were not made with forced labor, but small packages imported directly by consumers escape CBP scrutiny.

A hearing in the House of Representatives on America's critical minerals dependency showed agreement among Democrats and Republicans that more U.S. production and more coordination with allies is needed so that China is not so dominant in the critical minerals supply chain -- and that trade protection is needed so that domestic producers can compete with subsidized Chinese players.

The head of the Ways and Means Committee's Trade Subcommittee said that the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program never should have lapsed for two years, and he believes there's interest among House Democrats and Republicans "to get this done in a direct fashion that is timely and useful."

Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Chris Coons, D-Del., reintroduced a bill that would give the president the authority to lower duties on non-import-sensitive goods made by a country that lost exports due to coercive actions, and increase duties on imports from the "foreign adversary" committing economic coercion. It would also give the administration the ability to waive some export financing requirements and expedite regulations to facilitate trade with the coerced parties.

In West Virginia, where the first House Ways and Means Committee hearing of the new Congress was held since the Republicans won the majority, the members asked questions of business owners, and were hosted by a mid-sized business that sells hardwood lumber to furniture makers, cabinetmakers and flooring manufacturers.

Japan brought up issues it has around the Inflation Reduction Act, while the U.S. asked Japan to increase its use of ethanol and have better regulatory transparency for "certain products and services," according to a readout of a trade discussion between the two countries released Feb. 3 by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

An executive order to address supply chain challenges is not that easy to put into practice, since the private sector runs the supply chains, and companies are either reluctant to share their information with the government or may not know their own supply chains, according to a new GAO report.

Many members are asking the Senate Finance Committee chairman about renewing trade preferences programs, he told International Trade Today. Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said he recognizes the importance of renewing the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program and the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill, but was evasive about whether he would support clean renewals, or would require that an extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance accompany the bills.

Reps. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., and Dan Kildee, D-Mich., joined by two Republicans from sugar-growing states and one other Michigan Democrat, are calling for U.S. sugar policy reform, but only after major exporters end their government subsidies, which they say are unfair. They named Brazil, India, Thailand, Mexico and the EU as offenders. Their resolution puts the onus on the White House to suggest legislation on U.S. sugar policy once trading partners change their practices.

Fourteen Republican senators, led by Florida's Sen. Marco Rubio, wrote to the treasury secretary and secretary of state as the Cabinet officials traveled to China to meet with President Xi Jinping.