An independent federal agency is recommending lawmakers strip communist China of its trade privileges with the United States, ending what is known as Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) that Beijing has enjoyed for more than 20 years.
In its annual report to Congress released on Nov. 19, the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) offered 32 recommendations, and for the first time, it called for revoking China’s PNTR, previously known as the most favored nation (MFN) status. The preferred trading status opened the U.S. market to Chinese products with trade advantages such as reduced tariffs.
“This move would signal a shift toward a more assertive trade policy aimed at protecting U.S. industries and workers from economic coercion,” the commission said, adding that China shouldn’t benefit from the same trade terms as U.S. allies, given its malpractices such as intellectual property theft and market manipulation….