A bipartisan group in the House of Representatives is introducing new legislation to address concerns about China's growing influence over the U.S. food supply. The bill, spearheaded by Reps. Ashley Hinson and Elissa Slotkin, aims to minimize the leverage that Beijing's ruling Chinese Communist Party holds over American agricultural supply chains.
According to Rep. Hinson, China has gained significant market share in agricultural inputs crucial to the domestic food supply, raising fears that a potential disruption in the supply chain could severely impact food production in the U.S. The proposed legislation seeks to bring back critical supply chains to American soil to prevent China from restricting food production.
The bill would require the Department of Agriculture to develop strategies to proactively address threats posed by China and remove barriers hindering domestic production. Additionally, it mandates regular assessments of the health and vulnerability of domestic agriculture supply chains to Chinese influence.
This initiative comes amid broader efforts in Congress to counter China's influence, including recent legislation targeting Chinese-backed companies like ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. The bipartisan support for Hinson's bill underscores the growing bipartisan concern over China's dominance in global markets, particularly in sectors critical to the U.S. food supply.
Concerns about Chinese control over the food supply were heightened last year when a Chinese company attempted to purchase land in North Dakota for an agricultural project. China's increasing dominance in key sectors like amino acid production and trade has raised alarms about potential market manipulation and food security risks for American consumers.
A recent study highlighted the dangers of Chinese manipulation of essential inputs, warning that it could lead to reduced choices for producers and food security issues in the U.S. The bipartisan effort in the House reflects a broader push to safeguard American food production and reduce reliance on foreign powers like China.
