Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party recently appeared on CNBC's Squawk Box to discuss the Biden Administration's new tariffs on imports from China. Moolenaar also participated in NPR's Morning Edition radio program to further elaborate on the tariffs and the U.S.'s strategic competition with the Chinese Communist Party.
During his appearance, Moolenaar emphasized that the tariffs are a bipartisan initiative aimed at ensuring fair treatment by other nations. He stated, "[The tariffs] are an important bipartisan initiative that our committee has supported to make sure we're treated fairly by other nations. It should be free trade for free nations, and China has exploited our freedom here in the United States. When you consider the dumping that's going on, the overcapacity, and the unfair trade practices that they've engaged in, this is simply leveling the playing field. It's something I think should receive bipartisan support."
Moolenaar further explained how these tariffs address Chinese government subsidies that disrupt U.S. industry: "It's important that when you consider the subsidies that the Chinese Communist Party has when it comes to industries, like the auto industry, an electric vehicle manufactured in China by BYD costs about $10,000. When you consider that the least expensive electric vehicle in the United States is $30,000 because they don't receive those kind of subsidies, that's an unfair advantage for China. We're simply trying to level the playing field."
Finally, he criticized China for abusing its economic relationship with America: "China has a strategy of investing in different industries and chasing American industries out of the arena. We cannot afford as a country in these vital industries to be simply undercut in an unfair way. We have treated China as an equal, as a fair trading partner. They have not reciprocated... Unfortunately, they've abused the relationship, and that is why we are taking these actions."
