Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) testified before the House Ways and Means Committee this week. Salazar recommended her Americas Act as the only viable solution to winning the trade war against the Communist Chinese Party (CCP).
Rep. Salazar and California Rep. Bill Cassidy (R) first introduced the America's Act at the beginning of the year. Called the Americas Trade and Investment Act, the bill makes possible an ever-expanding and permanent trade partnership of Western Hemisphere countries. According to a press release from Salazar's office, this partnership would promote prosperity and stability while putting America first, growing the U.S. economy, and building trade with American allies.
Noting that Chinese trade with Latin America has significantly increased in the last two decades, increasing about 3,000%, Salazar warns that China has eclipsed the U.S. as the top trading partner with South America.
Salazar, who is the Chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, suggested that "if we employ the Americas Act, we will win the trade war in our backyard and put the United States back on top." “With this legislation, Senator Cassidy, myself, and the United States Congress will be sending a very clear message to our neighbors in the hemisphere: We want to work with you as much as you want to work with us. Latin Americans prefer the Americans over the Chinese and the Russians any day of the year,” Salazar added.
The committee that Salazar testified before maintains jurisdiction over all trade issues. With the Americas Act, Salazar posits that it will substantially weaken the presence of Russia and China in the Western Hemisphere.
When Salazar and Cassidy introduced the Americas Act in January, they outlined that the legislation would do the following:
- Re-shore and near-shore manufacturing to boost American industry and protect crucial supply chains.
- Encourage American companies to bring manufacturing back from China with competitive tax incentives.
- Improve energy security by investing in energy development in the hemisphere.
- Establish de minimis reciprocity to close China’s trade loophole and protect American manufacturers.
- Create a pathway to US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) membership.
- Create an expanding community of nations focused on improving hemispheric integration and prosperity called the “Americas Partnership”.
- Establish an E-Governance System to administer all public and private interactions within the Americas Partnership to combat the “gray economies” and prevent corruption.
- Establish an “Americans Investment Corporation” to address critical infrastructure needs, spur economic development across Latin America, and address the migration crisis through a supply-side response.
- Strengthening cultural bonds and integration among populations.
