Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Eric Burlison delivered opening remarks at a roundtable titled “Winning the Economic Competition with China: Working Families, the AI Race, and Energy” in Washington on July 14. Burlison said China is pushing to control global industries such as critical minerals processing, shipbuilding, artificial intelligence development, pharmaceutical supplies, and other manufacturing sectors in order to achieve economic dominance and undermine American leadership.
In his prepared remarks for the event, Burlison said the United States now faces a significant threat from the People’s Republic of China and its leadership. “While China seeks to cast itself as a traditional economic competitor, it is unlike any adversary we have ever faced,” Burlison said. He described China’s ambition as aiming to reshape and dominate the global economy in the 21st century through government subsidization, central planning, and violations of international rules.
Burlison also addressed concerns about Chinese influence over American technology sectors. He said that China is funding nonprofits in the United States and spreading propaganda to impede data center construction and energy projects. According to Burlison’s remarks, “We are even hearing reports of China-linked groups using American AI to spread misleading anti-data center content.”
The chairman criticized recent U.S. policy decisions such as those made under President Biden’s administration regarding tax credits for renewable energy projects. He said these policies allowed Chinese companies to exploit tax incentives by establishing solar panel factories in the United States.
Burlison pointed to H.R. 1, known as the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (WFTCA), which passed on July 4, 2025. He said this legislation ended certain climate-related funds from previous administrations while prohibiting foreign entities of concern from benefiting from U.S. tax provisions. The bill included $7.5 billion for expanding domestic critical minerals capacity—resources needed for American AI development—and supported increased fossil fuel production.
“WFTCA has strengthened our hand against China,” Burlison said at the conclusion of his remarks, but added that further action would be necessary: “But we have more we must do.”