China’s unfair trade practices harm American companies, but we can level the playing field

China is not engaging in “normal” trade practices, and that puts U.S. businesses and workers at a strong disadvantage as they attempt to compete. (Mark Schiefelbein/Pool/Getty Images)

Over two decades ago, the U.S. paved the way for the People’s Republic of China to become a member of the World Trade Organization by granting China permanent normal trade relations status, meaning our trade rules with them would match the best we offer to any of our trade partners. 

The hope by some was that by integrating the PRC into the rules-based international trade system, we could normalize its economic behavior and, perhaps, encourage respect for human, labor and political rights.