The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“Chinese Trade Policy (Executive Session)” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Senate section on pages S2898-S2899 on May 16, 2019.
The Department includes the Census Bureau, which is used to determine many factors about American life. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department is involved in misguided foreign trade policies and is home to many unneeded programs.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
Chinese Trade Policy
Madam President, finally, something good that I think the administration has done. I was pleased for two reasons to see the administration issue an Executive order laying the groundwork for the Commerce Department to ban all purchases of telecommunications equipment from China's State-controlled firms.
First, it was a good decision for our national security. We have long known the threat posed by foreign telecommunications companies, particularly Chinese firms like Huawei and ZTE. The tentacles of the Chinese Government are deep in these two companies. Our intelligence and defense communities, concerned about our own security here in America, have banned the use of Huawei products in the military and labeled its technology a national security threat. That is serious stuff.
So I applaud the decision to protect our networks from potential malware, foreign surveillance, and cyber espionage, and I applaud the administration. They backed off on ZTE 1 year ago, despite the overwhelming support in this Chamber for not letting ZTE sell products, but they are now doing the right thing on Huawei, which is even a greater danger than ZTE.
There is a second reason this is a good decision, aside from national security. It is called reciprocity. In America, we make great products, and time and again, when we make great products, the Chinese don't let us sell them to China. They instead keep the product out, steal the technology, and then produce it themselves. Well, it is about time there was a little fair play--a little fair play. China, for years, has sold products--likely with stolen IP--here in the United States cheaply while denying America access to its markets.
Reciprocity matters. A lot of people say to get China to negotiate, tariffs aren't the way to go. I have made my views on that clear, but reciprocity is another way to go. If China doesn't let our best stuff in, we are not letting theirs in. Open up. Play fair. If we don't do something about China today, our economy will be second-rate 10, 15 years from now, and our children and grandchildren will suffer economically, make no mistake about it.
Telecommunications, especially 5G technology, are already a major focus of American innovation. We shouldn't let Chinese companies worm in on the cheap and put American businesses at a disadvantage. The United States, with our allies, should lead to the development of a safe, secure, and economically viable alternative to the 5G architecture of firms like Huawei that are subject to the infiltration by the Chinese Government, which has shown no qualms about stealing everything of our intellectual property that they can.
I would say to our European, Japanese, and Australian allies, stick with us on this; it will benefit everybody--everybody. China is our No. 1 global competitor, and it is about time they played fair. What was done yesterday with Huawei by Secretary Ross will help make that happen, and it is a very good decision.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Scott of Florida). The Senator from Missouri.
