A group of U.S. unions has filed a Section 301 petition with the U.S. Trade Representative's Office, accusing China of unfair trade practices in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sector.

Recently, a proposed deal between Montreal-based SRG Mining Inc. and a Chinese company for a graphite mining operation in West Africa was scuttled by the Canadian government.

At a recent hearing on consumer products from China, the commissioners of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission pressed a Biden administration official on the impact of the de minimis rule for imports and on other issues related to the safety of Chinese imports.

Last week, China submitted a proposal to the WTO related to the expansion of trade in information technology products under the Information Technology Agreement (ITA).

At a meeting last week, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs considered a bill that would "prohibit contracting with certain biotechnology providers," with four Chinese companies named.

This past week, CTM covered the following issues. In China: * 2024 Government Work Report * China's trade policy in 2024 * Top official comments on relationship with the U.S. and EU * New SPS announcements In the U.S.: * USTR trade policy agenda in 2024 * New bills related to China

A think tank event on the USMCA yesterday discussed issues related to U.S. attempts to coordinate investment screening with Mexico.