Legislation On Higher Tariffs On China Seeks To Reduce U.S. Trade Deficit

The Raising Tariffs on Imports from China Act was introduced by Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and aims to increase tariffs on imports from China until the United State's bilateral trade deficit returns to balance. In tandem with this legislation, Senator Hawley is pushing for debt limit talks to focus on the reduction of the trade deficit.

Following the normalization of trade relations between the United States and China, the trade deficit grew to 382,917 million in 2022. Senator Hawley points to the ongoing trade deficit between the United States and China, which has averaged $350 billion annually since President Clinton granted China permanent Normal Trade Relations, as the catalyst for the loss of 3.82 million jobs, particularly 2.89 million manufacturing jobs.