A leading China hawk introduced legislation this week to revoke China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations with the United States, which was granted in 2000. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) introduced the Restoring Trade Fairness Act on Thursday. Moolenaar, who serves as Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, argued that PNTR has weakened U.S. manufacturing, harmed intellectual property rights, and bolstered the Chinese Communist Party’s influence as a strategic adversary. 

Despite PNTR’s original intent to encourage fair trade with China, Moolenaar said it has had the opposite effect. “Having permanent normal trade relations with China has failed our country,” Moolenaar said. “[PNTR] has sent jobs to our foremost adversary.”

The bill proposes ending China’s PNTR status by implementing a phased increase in tariffs over five years, leading to a minimum 35% tariff on non-strategic goods and a 100% tariff on strategic goods, such as advanced technologies. It would also eliminate “de minimis” treatment for imports from China and redirect tariff revenue to support U.S. farmers and manufacturers, with additional funds allocated for military munitions in the Pacific.

According to Oren Cass of thinktank American Compass, ending PNTR with China will “restore balance, end reliance on China, and rebuild a resilient economy.”

Related:Consumers report not having enough to eat in hurricane aftermath

RFK Jr. would oversee much of U.S. food safety regime

In the initial days of President-elect Donald Trump’s planning for his new administration, several of his selections for cabinet positions have raised concerns among people of both parties. One of the most controversial so far is his former rival and anti-vaccine crusader Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who Trump announced Thursday as his nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

Over the past several months, Kennedy has pledged to radically reform America’s food policy from inside the administration and has suggested major changes to both USDA and HHS. Should he receive Senate confirmation to lead HHS, he would oversee a department that includes Food and Drug Administration, is a central force in ensuring the safety, integrity and quality of the food supply across the United States. Tasked with protecting public health, HHS enforces a comprehensive approach to food safety that touches nearly every aspect of food production, distribution and labeling.

One of HHS’s most important responsibilities is to set and uphold food safety standards. Through the FDA, the agency regulates a wide array of food products, from dietary supplements and bottled water to ingredients used in everyday food items. Inspections and enforcement actions by the FDA support these standards. It also oversees food labeling requirements and sets guidelines for allergen labeling. It monitors foodborne pathogens and collaborates with local and state agencies to respond swiftly to outbreaks.

Related:Olympic athletes, Minnesota pork producers help feed families

While USDA regulates most domestic meat and poultry, HHS remains essential in ensuring safety and compliance for other food items moving between states. Working closely with Customs and Border Protection, FDA enforces strict guidelines for imported foods, blocking entry for items that do not meet U.S. standards. 

Senate majority leader has long ag policy background

Republicans in the United States Senate will have a new conference leader for the first time in 18 years when the new Congress is sworn in Jan. 3, 2025. After Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) retirement from the role, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) won a three-way battle on Wednesday to succeed him.

The 63-year-old Thune has served in the Senate since defeating then-Democratic party leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) in 2004. Prior to entering the Senate, he served three terms in the House representing the entire state of South Dakota as an at-large member of Congress. He is a long-serving member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and has been influential in the crafting of several farm bills.

Related:What impact will Trump's tariffs, immigration policy have on U.S. meat?

Thune’s victory was broadly praised by agriculture groups. “Senator Thune has long been a strong ally for cattle producers and is an excellent choice to secure meaningful relief for cattle producers as he leads the Senate,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “Throughout his career, Sen. Thune has led the effort to repeal the federal estate tax and fought to ensure family farms and ranches are able to be passed down to future generations.”