Senators on the committee that oversees trade pressed U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai repeatedly on why the administration isn't engaged in negotiations with other countries to get them to lower their tariffs, so that U. S.exporters, particularly agricultural producers, can gain more market share. Both Democrats and Republicans questioned the decision to pursue the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework as something other than a traditional free trade agreement.

The House should add stronger sanctions measures to the Russia-related bills recently passed out of the Financial Services Committee (see 2203180021), including more serious capital market and investment penalties, the Coalition for a Prosperous America said in a March 29 letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

During a hearing with the House Ways and Means Committee March 30, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai was asked by many Republicans and a few Democrats why the administration has ruled out cutting tariffs to convince negotiating partners in Asia to open their markets, and why it has shied away from continuing free trade agreement negotiations started during the previous administration.

The top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee is asking the Biden administration for more information on Russia's ability to use digital currencies to evade sanctions. The director of national intelligence should say whether there are “any indications” Russia is using digital assets to evade sanctions, said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, including whether Russian oligarchs and officials are turning to cryptocurrency.

Sen. John Thune, the South Dakota Republican who serves as his party's top vote-counter, told reporters at the Capitol that a bill to remove permanent normal trade relations status from Russia is stalled in the Senate over one Republican's disagreement on the Magnitsky Act renewal. He said that Democrats are negotiating with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., on the language he wants regarding the Magnitsky Act. "They're still trying to negotiate, and hopefully they'll be able to find a path forward, but as of right now, it's hung up, and I don't see that busting loose this week, and next week is the Supreme Court [nomination vote], so it doesn't look like anything's likely to happen on that until after the Easter break."

The Commerce Department should add ZTE to its Entity List now that its five-year probation period and U.S. criminal case has ended, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said in a March 28 letter to Commerce and Justice departments. Rubio also expressed “disappointment and concern” that a U.S. court this month ruled against further penalties against the Chinese telecommunications company (see 2203240060) despite “credible evidence” that ZTE violated its probation. Rubio said the judge in the case “appeared unconvinced of any serious commitment to reform” by ZTE officials.

With a vote that sends its U.S. Innovation and Competition Act back to the House, the Senate moved the two chambers' China packages one step closer to a legislative conference to align the bills. The 68-28 vote came late March 28.

The top Democrats on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China urged House and Senate leadership to include several sanctions and export control-related provisions (see 2202030062) in the final version of Congress’ China competition bill. As leadership begins negotiations on legislation to reconcile the versions passed in the House and Senate (see 2203210064), they should make sure not to omit “robust provisions on human rights principles,” said CECC Chair Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Co-Chair Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., introduced a bill March 24 that would give the administration the authority to sanction foreigners that create space debris without notifying the U.S government. "The bill would include exceptions for instances in which the foreign entity has been acting within a civil space cooperation agreement with the United States or has been working in compliance with United Nations law enforcement objectives, as well as for the importation of goods," his press release said.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and five fellow Republicans introduced legislation March 25 to renew the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act until the end of December 2034. The current law's expiration date is the end of this year. The Magnitsky Act provides authority to impose sanctions on individuals responsible for human rights violations.