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[Pages S2898-S2899]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Chinese Trade Policy
Madam President, finally, something good that I think the
administration has done. I was pleased for two reasons to see the
administration issue an Executive order laying the groundwork for the
Commerce Department to ban all purchases of telecommunications
equipment from China's State-controlled firms.
First, it was a good decision for our national security. We have long
known the threat posed by foreign telecommunications companies,
particularly Chinese firms like Huawei and ZTE. The tentacles of the
Chinese Government are deep in these two companies. Our intelligence
and defense communities, concerned about our own security here in
America, have banned the use of Huawei products in the military and
labeled its technology a national security threat. That is serious
stuff.
So I applaud the decision to protect our networks from potential
malware, foreign surveillance, and cyber espionage, and I applaud the
administration. They backed off on ZTE 1 year ago, despite the
overwhelming support in this Chamber for not letting ZTE sell products,
but they are now doing the right thing on Huawei, which is even a
greater danger than ZTE.
There is a second reason this is a good decision, aside from national
security. It is called reciprocity. In America, we make great products,
and time and again, when we make great
[[Page S2899]]
products, the Chinese don't let us sell them to China. They instead
keep the product out, steal the technology, and then produce it
themselves. Well, it is about time there was a little fair play--a
little fair play. China, for years, has sold products--likely with
stolen IP--here in the United States cheaply while denying America
access to its markets.
Reciprocity matters. A lot of people say to get China to negotiate,
tariffs aren't the way to go. I have made my views on that clear, but
reciprocity is another way to go. If China doesn't let our best stuff
in, we are not letting theirs in. Open up. Play fair. If we don't do
something about China today, our economy will be second-rate 10, 15
years from now, and our children and grandchildren will suffer
economically, make no mistake about it.
Telecommunications, especially 5G technology, are already a major
focus of American innovation. We shouldn't let Chinese companies worm
in on the cheap and put American businesses at a disadvantage. The
United States, with our allies, should lead to the development of a
safe, secure, and economically viable alternative to the 5G
architecture of firms like Huawei that are subject to the infiltration
by the Chinese Government, which has shown no qualms about stealing
everything of our intellectual property that they can.
I would say to our European, Japanese, and Australian allies, stick
with us on this; it will benefit everybody--everybody. China is our No.
1 global competitor, and it is about time they played fair. What was
done yesterday with Huawei by Secretary Ross will help make that
happen, and it is a very good decision.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Scott of Florida). The Senator from
Missouri.