WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Katie Britt (R-AL) led their colleagues in introducing the Fighting Trade Cheats Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen U.S. trade law enforcement and empower American manufacturers to take action against bad actors that engage in customs fraud.
The bill takes aim at companies that dump foreign-made goods into the United States and would allow private companies to sue foreign producers that harm American companies. By allowing private companies harmed by trade cheats to use their own resources to fight back, the bill would help address customs fraud and protect American workers and American jobs. In addition to Senators Baldwin and Britt, the legislation is also co-sponsored by Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC).
“In Wisconsin, our workers and manufacturers produce world-class products – and they deserve a fair shot to compete. But, too often, foreign companies and countries, like China, rig the system, undermine our companies, and put Wisconsinites out of work,” said Senator Baldwin. “That’s why I am proud to work with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to crack down on trade cheats like China, level the playing field for American workers, and move our Made in Wisconsin economy forward.”
“The Chinese Communist Party continues to be America’s greatest geopolitical and national security threat, and manufacturers across Alabama are paying the price as the CCP and other bad actors cheat Americans out of jobs, intellectual property, and opportunity,” said Senator Britt. “It’s past time we stand with our manufacturers and the hardworking families who depend on them for their livelihoods by giving them the tools needed to combat malicious trade practices. I am proud to help lead this bipartisan legislation that will allow manufacturers to take direct action against bad actors, onshore good-paying American jobs, and stop these manipulative practices.”
“The Chinese Communist Party has a long history of violating trade agreements with the United States, costing North Carolina businesses and workers,” said Senator Tillis. “I’m proud to co-sponsor this bipartisan legislation to hold the CCP and other bad actors accountable and empower private American companies to take action and fight back against trade cheats.”
American businesses including Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, which owns Neenah Foundry, support the bipartisan legislation. Charlotte Pipe and Foundry is a family-owned company that manufactures cast iron, PVC, CPVC, and ABS pipe and fittings.
“Charlotte Pipe is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year,” said Brad Muller, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, the parent company of Neenah Foundry. “As a fifth generation, family-owned business we have battled unfair competition from unscrupulous foreign producers for decades. The current enforcement mechanisms in place are broken and aren’t doing enough to stop the flood of illegally imported goods into our country. We urge Congress to pass Fighting Trade Cheats Act and other common sense trade enforcement bills to stop the rampant cheating that threatens the jobs of our 2,000 hard working American associates.”
“Trade laws only work if they’re enforced. The Fighting Trade Cheats Act gives our government the tools it needs to hold bad actors accountable, stop duty evasion, and protect workers and industries that play by the rules,” said United Steelworkers President Dave McCall. “As we work to level the playing field and sustain good union jobs across the United States, we applaud Sens. Baldwin and Britt’s efforts to pass this vital legislation.”
Full text of the legislation is available here.
An online version of this release is available here.
