REPS. PANETTA, VALADAO INTRODUCE THE BIPARTISAN CHINA TRADE CHEATING RESTITUTION ACT

Statement

Today, Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) and David G. Valadao (R-San Joaquin Valley) introduced the China Trade Cheating Restitution Act to ensure that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) distributes the remaining anti-dumping duties to U.S. garlic, honey, and crawfish producers that weren't paid by the agencies between 2000 and 2014. Under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 (CDSOA), CBP still owes garlic producers, which both Reps. Panetta and Valadao represent, an additional $10.5 million in retroactive duties. These producers have suffered years of abusive dumping practices by China and are owed that amount in restitution that was wrongly kept from them by CBP.

"Since 2000, the federal government has collected dumping duties on Chinese garlic imports but has failed to pay the required restitution to impacted producers," said Congressman Panetta. "The bipartisan legislation that I authored and introduced with my California colleague, David Valadao, will right this wrong by requiring CBP to pay all collected duties and interest to those in our agricultural sector who deserve it. By dumping garlic into our market, Chinese importers have long inflicted serious economic harm, especially on our California producers. With this legislation, we are ensuring that the federal government lives up to its responsibilities not only to prevent dumping but to also provide the proper remedy to our producers of American agriculture."

"The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a legal responsibility to distribute all anti-dumping duties and interest to those facing unfair foreign competition, and it is unacceptable for the agency to withhold more than a decade's worth of collected interest from these producers," said Congressman G. Valadao. "I am happy to work across the aisle with Rep. Panetta to support our domestic industries and address this truly bipartisan issue. It is critical Congress works together to ensure these producers receive the payments they are due."

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