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Krishnamoorthi, Hinson, Moolenaar, Lieu Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Crack Down on CCP Trade Crimes and Protect American Workers and Businesses

March 10, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party joined Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI), and Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) to reintroduce the bipartisan and bicameral Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act, which establishes a new structure within the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the CCP’s trade crimes and protect American workers and manufacturers. The bill is also co-led by Reps. Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Deborah Ross (D-NC), and Haley Stevens (D-MI).

The bill was introduced with Rep. Robert Wittman (R-VA), Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN), Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN), Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Rep. Don Davis (D-NC), Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA), Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), Rep. Michael Rulli (R-OH), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA), Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL), Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV), Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Rep. Richie Torres (D-NY), Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA).

The Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act was introduced originally in the 118th Congress, in which the legislation passed unanimously in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Companies based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) frequently commit crimes violating U.S. trade laws including fraud, duty evasion, and transshipment which benefit the PRC’s non-market economy and severely harm U.S. companies and workers. Many companies have shuttered their doors and countless Americans have lost their jobs due to this criminal activity.

Background:
The Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act: 

  • Establishes a new task force or similar structure within the DOJ’s Criminal Division to investigate and prosecute trade-related crimes.
  • Enhances nationwide responses to trade-related offenses by providing training and technical assistance to other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, expanding investigations and prosecutions, and allowing for parallel criminal and civil enforcement actions.
  • Requires the Attorney General to submit an annual report to Congress assessing the DOJ’s efforts, statistics on trade-related crimes, and fund utilization.
  • Authorizes funding for FY26 to support these efforts with appropriate guardrails.

“This bipartisan legislation sends a strong message, in one voice, that the Chinese Communist Party must end its illegal trade practices now,” said Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi. “From violating the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act to flooding the American market with dumped goods and illegal vape products, this economic aggression has gone unchecked for too long. This legislation will give the Department of Justice the tools it needs to fight back against the CCP’s predatory trade practices and protect American workers and companies.” 

“My bill will support the Trump Administration’s efforts to stop these blatant violations and ensure penalties are meaningfully enforced,” said Congresswoman Hinson. “American workers have felt pain for far too long because of Communist China’s malfeasance—now it’s time for Communist China to face consequences.”  

"Reintroducing the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act is crucial to holding China accountable for its illegal trade practices that harm American businesses and workers,” said Chairman Moolenaar. “This bipartisan legislation strengthens enforcement and ensures the Department of Justice has the resources necessary to combat China's unfair tactics. We cannot allow China's unlawful actions to undermine U.S. competitiveness and our manufacturing sector." 

“Our trade laws exist to secure the American economy and empower our workers,” said Congressman Ted Lieu. “The Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act will equip the Justice Department to swiftly pursue those who break our laws and attempt to evade prosecution. Congress must pass this bill to ensure that our trade laws are meaningfully enforced. American workers and consumers are counting on us, and I am proud to champion this timely legislation.”

“I am proud to co-lead this vital bill which responds to the reality of the world today: an international competition for leadership in vital technologies and to build national strengths in key sectors like manufacturing,” said Congressman Rosa DeLauro. “In this competition, America’s adversaries are utilizing every tool in their toolbox to undermine our businesses and workers and evade our laws. From disguising the origin of products made with Uyghur slave labor to deliberately dumping massive amounts of steel at artificially low prices in order to put U.S. producers out of business, China in particular has shown that there is no law they will not bend or break in order to gain an unfair advantage. That is why this bill is so important—it gives the Department of Justice real authority to crack down on these abusive, illegal trade practices, and to ensure that serial cheaters are held accountable. These are not victimless crimes. Every American suffers when our manufacturing capacity is eroded, or when our small businesses lose out to competitors who employ forced labor. Enough is enough—today we draw a line in the sand that says American labor and trade laws are not optional. They will be enforced, and they will be obeyed.”

“For far too long, North Carolina businesses have been undermined by illegal trade practices that weaken our economy and violate fair competition,” said Congresswoman Ross (D-NC). “The Protecting American Industry & Labor from International Trade Crimes Act strengthens enforcement, closes loopholes, and holds trade cheaters accountable. The United States must take a firm stand to protect trade workers, small businesses, and critical industries from unfair foreign competition and bad actors.”

“American labor and trade laws matter. We must hold adversaries in the economic sphere accountable for their cheating and circumventing the rules of free and fair trade,” said Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-MD).  “I am proud to co-lead this legislation to continue to support the Department of Justice as they enforce laws against violators of these norms. We, as a nation, must speak out on behalf of our manufacturers, small businesses, and workers. Staying competitive means being comprehensive in our approach to battling transnational trade cheats.  This bill is a step in the right direction.”

“Our competitors, like China, have used illegal trade practices to undercut Michigan manufacturers for too long,” said Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI). “That’s why we need the Protecting American Industry & Labor from International Trade Crimes Act, to make sure that we have the tools to go after cheaters and hold them accountable. To win the mid-21st century we need to use every tactic at our disposal to keep China and other economic cheaters from winning.”

Quotes from industry, labor, and human rights partners:

"The Alliance for American Manufacturing commends the introduction of the bipartisan Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2025. The legislation rightly prioritizes the prosecution of trade crimes and is both sorely needed and long overdue. Customs fraud and other trade crimes are pernicious in their reach, harming domestic industries, destroying jobs, and robbing communities across the country of their economic lifeblood." – Scott Paul, President, Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM)

“For too long, China has circumvented U.S. trade laws by way of fraud, transshipment of Chinese products and duty evasion. These actions have harmed American businesses, including the domestic steel industry. By establishing a task force within the Department of Justice, this bill will help ensure that criminal activities to evade U.S. customs and trade laws are appropriately addressed by federal prosecutors. AISI applauds the work of Representatives Hinson and Krishnamoorthi to develop this important legislation to ensure vigorous enforcement of U.S. customs and trade laws and, where appropriate, prosecution of criminal violations of these laws.” – Kevin Dempsey, President and CEO, American Iron and Steel Institute

“The Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2024 establishes a new framework within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to ensure compliance with trade laws meant to uphold justice, including the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). The UFLPA has set a strong precedent to prevent the American market from being tainted by forced labor. This legislation goes a step further in holding violators accountable and closing accountability gaps in the current system. No one should turn a blind eye to the ongoing Uyghur genocide and CCP state-sponsored exploitation of Uyghur people for forced labor. Those who continue to undermine the UFLPA and existing trade laws, should face appropriate consequences. Campaign for Uyghurs urges the swift passage of this critical legislation, which centers transparency in actions taken to ensure the American market is protected from trade crimes." – Campaign for Uyghurs

"The Forging Industry Association strongly supports the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act to prosecute the criminal actions of the Chinese Communist Party and those who violate our trade laws to undercut American manufacturing. Whether foreign or domestic, this bill will take trade criminals head on and strengthen the U.S. industrial base by giving the U.S. Government the tools it needs to prosecute violators." – Forging Industry Association

“We would like to thank Chairman John Moolenaar and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, leaders of the U.S. House Select Committee on the CCP, along with U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and other House colleagues for introducing legislation that will address pervasive unfair trade, fraud and trade crimes that have negatively impacted U.S. companies and workers.  The domestic steel pipe, tube, and fittings industry and its 35,000 employees across the country are committed to ending these practices and believe that this legislation will provide the tools necessary to address chronic trade crimes by establishing a structure within the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division to prosecute international trade crimes. This legislation is an important first step to ensure that chronic fraud and unfair practices can be addressed in legislation that will hold “bad actors” responsible for their actions and restore the ability for manufacturers and workers to compete in an arena where all trading partners comply with global trade rules.”  – The Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports (CPTI)

“The trade crimes committed by companies often based in China undermine U.S. manufacturing and the Defense Industrial Base. The North American Die Casting Association strongly supports the Protecting American Industry & Labor from Trade Crimes Act to provide the Executive Branch with additional resources to prosecute those who seek to evade our trade laws. We need stronger enforcement to prevent overseas companies from violating the law to gain an advantage over American manufacturers.” – North American Die Casting Association

“When we do not enforce our trade laws, it invites companies in China to evade tariffs and duties, which leads to more Chinese molds, tooling and dies imported into the U.S. The American Mold Builders Association strongly supports the Protecting American Industry & Labor from International Trade Crimes Act and encourages Congress to provide the Executive Branch the resources it needs to enforce our trade laws. Allowing China and other trade law violators to import into the U.S. undermines our manufacturing base and gives a free pass to those who break our trade laws.” – American Mold Builders Association

"America’s manufacturers of critical medical supplies and personal protective equipment face unfair competition from foreign companies and hostile nations, especially in their creative ways of using tariff evasion to artificially keep costs low and defraud the US government. Bad actors blatantly violate trade laws, systematically evade tariffs and duties, and deliver inferior products that the government has flagged. This actively endangers unsuspecting American consumers in healthcare, public safety, and other vital industries. Egregious actions like these from abroad severely harm American workers and manufacturers while posing significant national security and public health risks. AMMA emphatically supports this legislation and is firm in its commitment to ensuring accountability, rigorous tracking, and stringent enforcement of all violations."– Eric Axel, Executive Director, American Medical Manufacturers Association

“Right now, CPA members are forced to compete against Chinese and other foreign entities that are openly committing trade fraud and other crimes, directly undermining American producers and hurting our workers. Last year’s federal raid of Sunsong North America, a Chinese-owned auto parts manufacturer under investigation for trade fraud, underscores how urgently we need to equip the Department of Justice with stronger authority and greater resources to prosecute these international trade crimes. Congress should immediately pass this bipartisan legislation to ensure American manufacturers and workers are better protected from predatory foreign entities seeking to undermine our economy.” – Zach Mottl, Chairman, Coalition for a Prosperous America

"America's shrimp producers strongly support the creation of a permanent structure in the Department of Justice to focus on trade crimes. Our industry has been hammered by unfair imports from China and other countries, and our government needs the tools and resources to fully prosecute criminals that violate our trade laws and undermine the trade relief our producers have fought so hard to obtain."– Trey Pearson, President, American Shrimp Processors Association

The Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act has also been endorsed by the United Steelworkers and AFL-CIO.

Full text of the bill can be found here.

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