GOP Senators Introduce Legislation to Strip China’s Favored Trade Status

The legislation would also increase tariffs by 100 percent on Chinese imports deemed important to U.S. national security.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Capitol Hill in Washington, on March 25, 2021. Andrew Harnik/Pool/Getty Images

Three Republican senators have introduced new legislation that would strip China of its trade privileges with the United States and increase tariffs by 100 percent on certain Chinese imports.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who sits on the intelligence and armed services committee, said the legislation would remove China’s permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status. The legislation, called the Neither Permanent Nor Normal Trade Relations Act (S.5264), was co-sponsored by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).