Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi Leads Members in Calling for Coordinated U.S. Tariff Strategy Toward the People’s Republic of China

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, was joined by Representatives Jill Tokuda (HI-02), André Carson (IN-07), and Shontel Brown (OH-11) of the Select Committee in urging the Administration to adopt a coherent tariff policy that strengthens American workers and industry while countering the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) unfair practices.

In a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of the Treasury, the Members warned that “the United States government needs a coordinated approach to tariff policy if it hopes to combat the harmful economic and geopolitical policies of the PRC.” They emphasized that tariffs “can protect domestic industry from maligned economic practices and compel adherence to international standards,” but cautioned that an uncoordinated approach “fails to properly leverage trade tools to change the PRC’s behavior and risks economic harm to U.S. industry, workers, and farmers.”

“Recently, the White House implemented tariffs on three nations, two of which are close allies. The Administration also announced the second of two successive 10 percent tariff increases on the PRC, an economic adversary. It is vitally important to stand up to the PRC’s unfair trade practices and to do so with our allies. Yet… the United States seems to have failed to resolve any material matter of national security or economic coercion and only opened the U.S. economy to further risk and increased costs.”

The letter urges a strategic, alliance-based tariff policy, stressing that tariffs “should be wielded strategically to combat our economic adversaries” and not “serve a narrow set of interests of our nation’s most wealthy individuals or companies.” It cites U.S. Trade Representative and International Trade Commission findings that Section 301 tariffs have successfully reduced U.S. exposure to China and encouraged new domestic and allied-nation investment.

The Members warned that poorly coordinated tariffs could again invite PRC retaliation:

“The PRC has already shown its willingness to punish the American economy when faced with the pressure of tariffs. Recent analysis on retaliatory measures shows us that, once again,

America’s industrial heartland and farmers will bear the brunt of the CCP’s reprisal. These are communities that power this nation and have propelled us through the industrial revolution to the vanguard of today’s global economy. The CCP’s strategy here is clear—hit America where it hurts the most.”

The letter requests detailed responses from the Administration by April 9, 2025, including plans to:

• Engage U.S. manufacturers, labor groups, and allies in tariff strategy;
• Safeguard critical supply chains; and
• Establish a fair, transparent exclusions process for small businesses.

The letter is available here and was signed by Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, along with Representatives Jill Tokuda, André Carson, and Shontel Brown of the Select Committee.

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