S 1165119th CongressIn Committee

Strengthen American Competitiveness Against Harmful Subsidies Act of 2025

Introduced: Mar 27, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Strengthen American Competitiveness Against Harmful Subsidies Act of 2025 would require the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to regularly monitor industrial subsidies provided by the Government of the People’s Republic of China and to report on the risks those subsidies pose to U.S. jobs and manufacturing, especially in strategically important sectors. The bill outfits a wide network of federal agencies to assist in monitoring and to participate in the annual risk assessment and policy recommendations. The first report would be due within one year after enactment, with subsequent annual updates. The purpose is to inform Congress and guide actions that could mitigate the negative effects of Chinese subsidies on the U.S. economy and national security.

Key Points

1Monitoring mandate for China’s industrial subsidies: The USTR, in coordination with a broad set of federal agencies, must regularly track current Chinese subsidies and any plans to create new subsidies or expand existing ones.
2Multisector, interagency collaboration: Monitoring involves specified units from State, Commerce, Agriculture, SBA, and potentially any other agency designated by the President (Section 2).
3Annual risk reporting to Congress: Within one year of enactment and every year thereafter, the USTR must report to Congress identifying subsidies that threaten U.S. employment (including in strategically critical industries) and U.S. manufacturing (including strategically critical goods), plus recommended actions to mitigate those risks (Section 3).
4Broad definitions to guide scope: The bill defines terms like critical infrastructure, key technology focus areas, strategically critical goods, and strategically critical industries to focus monitoring and risk assessment on sectors important to national security and economic security (Section 3, and definitions).
5Authority to shape policy, not mandate penalties: The reports may recommend legislative, administrative, or other actions to mitigate risks, but the bill does not itself impose new penalties or tariffs.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- USTR and the included federal agencies (State, Commerce, Agriculture, SBA, USAID, and others designated by the President) that would conduct monitoring and contribute to the annual report.- U.S. manufacturing sectors and workers in strategically critical industries identified as at risk from Chinese subsidies.Secondary group/area affected- Policymakers in Congress (Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee) who would receive the annual reports and arising recommendations.- U.S. policymakers and negotiators shaping U.S. trade and industrial policy in response to subsidy risks.Additional impacts- Potential influence on future trade tools or policy actions (e.g., legislative or administrative steps to counter subsidies).- Increased interagency coordination on monitoring foreign subsidies, possibly affecting budgeting, staffing, and interagency processes.- Signals to international partners about U.S. focus on protecting critical infrastructure, technologies, and industries; could influence how other countries view subsidies and competition.The act emphasizes “strategically critical goods” and “strategically critical industries,” tied to national security and economic security, and relies on existing definitions of critical infrastructure and key technology focus areas to shape analysis.The bill contemplates expanding agency participation over time (the President may designate additional departments/agencies for monitoring and reporting).

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