Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the annual defense spending bill, which includes a number of provisions that address various China trade and economic issues. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill this week.

Last week, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it would sanction certain Chinese distant water fishing fleets for various abuses, including their labor and environmental practices.

On Friday, a WTO panel issued its findings in respect of complaints brought by China and three other governments against the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, and continued by the Biden administration, on imports of certain imported steel and aluminum, on the basis of "security" concerns. The

This past week, CTM covered the following issues. In China: * Trade and investment discussions with Laos and Saudi Arabia * Authorization for food imports from Tanzania and Cuba * Trade data shows continued decline In the United States: * Legislation that would restrict investment in Chinese companies * Preliminary determinations on circumvention of solar

Earlier this week, we wrote about a South Dakota ban on the use of TikTok by state employees, and efforts to push for similar actions in Wisconsin. Maryland, South Carolina, and Texas are now taking action on this issue as well.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its preliminary determinations in the circumvention inquiries of solar cells and modules from China where the products were exported to the United States from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

A recently published briefing paper entitled "Trade Aspects of China’s Presence in Latin America and Caribbean," requested by the European Parliament's International Trade Committee, examines the role of China in these regions and proposes EU responses.