The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has announced two new investigations related to China, one on revoking Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) and the other on government support for the biotech sector.

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), along with Reps. Thomas Tiffany (R-WI) and Andrew Ogles (R-TN), have introduced legislation that would eliminate "permanent normal trade relations" (PNTR) for China, returning to the pre-2000 annual review process, with additional human rights-related criteria added that could lower the chances of normal trade

The "de minimis" exemption as applied to Chinese goods has gone through some turmoil over the past month with various actions taken by the Trump administration. At the same time, members of Congress are now pushing the issue as well.

Today, the U.S. Trade Representative delivered President Trump’s 2025 Trade Policy Agenda, 2024 Annual Report, and World Trade Organization at Thirty report to Congress, offering a number of comments on U.S. trade relations with China and U.S. views of China in the WTO.

While President Trump's ability to impose tariffs through statutory authority delegated by Congress is the focus of attention right now, Congress is also considering tariff actions, with China a likely target through legislation to withdraw China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status.

Yesterday, President-Elect Trump announced Jamieson Greer as his nominee for U.S. Trade Representative. Greer served as Chief of Staff for Trump's previous U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer during Trump's first term, and is likely to continue the tough China trade policies of that period.

Last week, two long-time Washington, DC trade lawyers who worked in the first Trump administration commented on the prospects for proposed legislation that would withdraw Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status for China.