WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to the Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer, expressing his support for the Trump administration’s efforts to make U.S. trade deals beneficial to the United States while countering threats from Communist China, a U.S. adversary, which the Senator notes is necessary to protect national security and economic stability. To build on these efforts, Senator Scott is recommending several steps the administration can take next to strengthen our supply chains, enforce our trade laws, protect domestic producers from unfair competition and Make America Great Again.

Read the full letter HERE.

Dear Ambassador Greer and Secretary Lutnick,

I first wish to congratulate you both on your recent confirmations to your respective positions. Our nation will be better off because of your leadership and service. I am confident in your commitment to serve the American people under President Donald Trump to make America great again, which includes improving our economy, balancing trade, and using strategic tools in the economic warfare toolkit to counter our adversaries.

With confidence in your leadership, I write to express my strong concern about the unfinished business in countering the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to U.S. interests, and ensuring that American industries have a fair chance to compete against all nations in the global market. Ambassador Greer, as you take the helm as the United States Trade Representative, and Secretary Lutnick, as you lead our economic and trade strategy, I am already encouraged by the administration’s efforts to make sure America is getting better deals. I look forward to your continued efforts to strengthen our supply chains, enforce our trade laws, and protect domestic producers from unfair competition, particularly in the context of President Trump’s tariff agenda, United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) review negotiations, and tackling the economic influence of the CCP.

To accomplish this agenda, I recommend the following steps:

Countering Communist China

• Revoke PNTR status for China.
• End de minimis loopholes and enforce tariffs on goods from malign actors.
• Prevent CCP-linked companies from accessing U.S. capital markets.
• Improve enforcement of export controls and provide clarity for U.S. businesses.
• Establish a coordinated import restriction policy for concerning technologies.

Strengthening Relationships and Requiring Accountability with Trade Partners

• Pursue USMCA reforms to prohibit adversarial exploitation of America’s neighbors and harm to U.S. industries, from farmers to manufacturers, by adversaries and neighbors.
• Foster critical minerals alliances and strengthen U.S. processing and production capabilities.
• Counter the Belt and Road Initiative through strategic export and investment abroad.
• Deepen partnerships with security alliance countries for economic and defense cooperation.
• Require coordination between U.S. agencies, embassies and missions around the world – including the Foreign Service and the U.S. Foreign and Commercial Service – to better capitalize on opportunities for U.S. industry to export and invest in critical sectors, locations, and infrastructure globally.

Protecting and Growing Domestic Industry

• Streamline regulatory and permitting processes.
• Reform antidumping and countervailing duty laws and enforcement.
• Enhance transparency for consumers on the origins and safety of their purchases.
• Remove tax incentives for adversarial nations’ companies and provide incentives for U.S. industry to produce in America.
• Close gaps in supply chains, provide supply chain security, and stop U.S. dependence on procurement of components and goods from our leading adversary.
• Levy increased tariffs on all foreign entities of concern that are undermining U.S. industries and our free market system.
• Implement quantity restrictions on Mexican specialty crop imports to ensure fair competition for U.S. producers.
• Encourage prioritization of U.S. and allied businesses above those of U.S. adversaries for contracting, procurement, permitting, or licensing.

I am so grateful to have strong leadership now in the White House with President Trump and his administration to tackle these problems. The work in addressing the CCP’s threats and ensuring fair trade for American producers is a matter of national security and economic survival. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

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