The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission recently released its annual report to Congress, recommending for the first time that lawmakers terminate China’s favored trade status and end the provision that allows goods under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free. The commission, established by Congress as a bipartisan entity to investigate and provide policy recommendations on China, is advocating for Congress to end the Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) that China has enjoyed since 2004.
In its report, the commission highlighted the need for the U.S. to address the increasing threats posed by China, including the exploitation of trade loopholes and the influx of potentially harmful products into the country. Commission chair Robin Cleveland emphasized the urgency of implementing stronger safety and legal protections for American consumers and manufacturers.
One of the key recommendations made by the commission is the establishment of a “Manhattan Project-like program” to acquire Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) capability in the U.S. This initiative aims to enhance U.S. competitiveness in the field of artificial intelligence and ensure that the country remains at the forefront of technological advancement.
The report also called for the elimination of the de minimus exemption in tariff law, which allows Chinese goods to evade regulatory inspection and tariffs by entering the U.S. in shipments valued under $800. This loophole has been exploited by China to import potentially dangerous products, such as counterfeit goods and fentanyl, into the country.
Additionally, the commission recommended that Congress consider legislation to eliminate federal tax expenditures for investments in Chinese companies on the Commerce Department’s Entity List, which includes entities believed to pose a threat to U.S. interests or intellectual property. The report also urged the U.S. to enhance its export controls to prevent China’s access to critical dual-use goods and technologies.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
Throughout the year, China has demonstrated aggressive behavior, including violent attacks on Philippine personnel, attempts to influence Taiwan’s democratic elections, and intercontinental ballistic missile tests. In response to these actions, the report suggested that the U.S. should bolster its defenses and impose stricter measures on Chinese imports and investments.
With the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden, the report’s recommendations may receive increased attention and scrutiny. It remains to be seen how Congress will respond to the commission’s proposals for reshaping U.S.-China relations and safeguarding American interests in the face of growing Chinese influence.
