Neal, Sánchez: President Trump’s China trade flip-flop creates more chaos

WASHINGTON, DC—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA) issued a joint statement today after President Trump signed an executive order reversing his earlier decision to close the de minimis trade exemption for China.  

The de minimis exemption allows packages valued at less than $800 entering the United States to be fast-tracked and avoid tariffs, fees, and most basic inspection procedures.  

"President Trump flip-flopping on his China trade executive order is just the latest sell-out of the American public by this White House,” the members said. “In less than a week, he has gone from closing the China de minimis loophole to reopening it, leaving businesses, workers, USPS, and our Customs officials scrambling to keep up, and Elon Musk’s interests protected yet again.

“How can we expect American businesses and workers to adapt to his trade policies when the President himself can’t keep them straight? And more importantly, why is he repeatedly going softer on China while simultaneously threatening our closest neighbors and allies? 

“It’s critical that we address China’s manipulation of our trade policies – especially closing the de minimis loophole, which has hollowed out our industries, shipped jobs overseas, enabled China’s continuing violations of intellectual property rights, flooded our shores with illegal and unsafe products, and contributed to the rise of fentanyl in the United States. It hasn’t even been a week since the President declared a national emergency and now, he’s backtracking on a Friday afternoon and attempting to hide his cowardice from the American people. 

“We need a clear, strategic and stable approach to China, not more chaos.” 

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