LOCALIZE IT: State lawmakers have dozens of anti-China proposals targeting Chinese goods and firms
FILE - This photo released by the City of Grand Forks shows land purchased by the Fufeng Group in Grand Forks, N.D., on Jan. 23, 2025. (City of Grand Forks via AP, File)
State lawmakers have introduced scores of proposals this year aimed at preventing government agencies from buying Chinese products, limiting Chinese gifts and grants to universities, restricting lobbying for Chinese interests and ending the investment of public funds in Chinese companies. The efforts in statehouses to undercut China’s economic influence and counter perceived security threats began before President Trump started his second term and imposed 145% tariffs on China. But his tough-on-China rhetoric, dating from his first term, and his trade policies are encouraging state lawmakers, particularly fellow Republicans, to pursue their own measures. Some GOP officials see their efforts complementing Trump’s policies.
There are plenty of examples of new laws aimed at China this year, though some proposals also cover other foreign U.S. adversaries or countries of concern, such as Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Russia. Lawmakers have introduced at least 240 anti-China proposals in at least 41 states, according to an Associated Press analysis of data using the bill-tracking software Plural.
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READ AP’S STORY: From banning tech to ending sister-city ties, US states have at least 240 anti-China proposals
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FIND YOUR STATE: ANTI-CHINA LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS
The 41 states listed below have proposed anti-China legislation. You can view those proposals here on the Plural website. The list of proposals can also be sorted alphabetically by state.
The full text of bills generally can be found on state legislatures’ websites, along with the list of their legislative sponsors. The U.S. Congress has a site with links to each one.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Michigan
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
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WHAT IS INCLUDED IN SOME OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION?
Some proposals are designed to impose or tighten restrictions on property ownership by people or companies from or with ties to foreign adversaries, a list that typically includes China.
Others measures would prevent vendors from foreign adversaries from bidding on state or local contracts, or prevent state and local agencies from contracting with them. Some measure seek to keep Chinese parts or technology out of critical infrastructure, such as electric grids or telecommunications networks.
Some lawmakers are concerned about the influence of China-backed institutes or organizations on college campuses or with public school districts and are seeking restrict gifts, grants and contracts. Some target Chinese goods or services with measures like a new Arkansas law that will require any vendor providing electric vehicles or EV parts to the state to certify that no forced labor is used in making them.
It’s well worth reading past a bill’s title, into the text. For example, in California, Senate Bill 235 would create a new Department of Resources Recycling and Recovering and direct it to compile a report on the recycling and stockpiling of critical minerals. The link to China is in an opening statement of legislative findings: A majority of rare earth elements come from China, making recycling beneficial.
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OTHER RESOURCES
— Legislative websites generally list the sponsors of bills and proposals to amend them, as well as roll calls from votes on them. That will help you find lawmakers who support various proposals, those who had enough concerns to seek changes and those who opposed them.
In addition, copies of written testimony submitted to committees and video from debates are often accessible from legislative websites if there’s a need to catch up to past actions, and many legislative debates are livestreamed.
— State commerce and agriculture departments also have programs and officials who deal with trade, and China is often is a major partner.
— If your community has a college or university, it may have scholars who study international relations, the international economy or China specifically, all of whom could be good sources.
— If a proposal would apply to cities, counties, school districts and universities, their officials would be worth contacting.
— The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency publishes an annual report on foreign ownership of agricultural land, with data for counties, though the latest one is for the end of 2023. Many counties have records detailing who owns property online, often through the office that collects taxes from them.
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QUESTIONS TO ASK
— Ask sponsors of legislative proposals whether specific incidents in their local communities or elsewhere prompted them to introduce them — and push them to be as specific as possible about their sources of information. It’s worth asking about their business or military experience as well.
— If a bill restricts the purchasing of Chinese technology, goods or services by state and local government agencies, ask their officials how much they buy. File freedom-of-information requests to get copies of contracts involving companies and individuals covered by a bill, if those records aren’t available online.
— If a measure deals with Chinese drones or drone parts, it possible that local law enforcement agencies have been using them already, so ask police or sheriff’s offices how they might be affected and how they use drones.
— Ask local chambers of commerce whether businesses have substantial dealings with Chinese companies or companies tied to foreign adversaries or get key parts or supplies from them.
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Localize It is a resource produced regularly by The Associated Press for its customers’ use. Questions can be directed to Katie Oyan at koyan@ap.org.