[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 82 (Thursday, May 16, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2898-S2899]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Chinese Trade Policy

  Madam President, finally, something good that I think the 
administration has done. I was pleased for two reasons to see the 
administration issue an Executive order laying the groundwork for the 
Commerce Department to ban all purchases of telecommunications 
equipment from China's State-controlled firms.
  First, it was a good decision for our national security. We have long 
known the threat posed by foreign telecommunications companies, 
particularly Chinese firms like Huawei and ZTE. The tentacles of the 
Chinese Government are deep in these two companies. Our intelligence 
and defense communities, concerned about our own security here in 
America, have banned the use of Huawei products in the military and 
labeled its technology a national security threat. That is serious 
stuff.
  So I applaud the decision to protect our networks from potential 
malware, foreign surveillance, and cyber espionage, and I applaud the 
administration. They backed off on ZTE 1 year ago, despite the 
overwhelming support in this Chamber for not letting ZTE sell products, 
but they are now doing the right thing on Huawei, which is even a 
greater danger than ZTE.
  There is a second reason this is a good decision, aside from national 
security. It is called reciprocity. In America, we make great products, 
and time and again, when we make great

[[Page S2899]]

products, the Chinese don't let us sell them to China. They instead 
keep the product out, steal the technology, and then produce it 
themselves. Well, it is about time there was a little fair play--a 
little fair play. China, for years, has sold products--likely with 
stolen IP--here in the United States cheaply while denying America 
access to its markets.
  Reciprocity matters. A lot of people say to get China to negotiate, 
tariffs aren't the way to go. I have made my views on that clear, but 
reciprocity is another way to go. If China doesn't let our best stuff 
in, we are not letting theirs in. Open up. Play fair. If we don't do 
something about China today, our economy will be second-rate 10, 15 
years from now, and our children and grandchildren will suffer 
economically, make no mistake about it.
  Telecommunications, especially 5G technology, are already a major 
focus of American innovation. We shouldn't let Chinese companies worm 
in on the cheap and put American businesses at a disadvantage. The 
United States, with our allies, should lead to the development of a 
safe, secure, and economically viable alternative to the 5G 
architecture of firms like Huawei that are subject to the infiltration 
by the Chinese Government, which has shown no qualms about stealing 
everything of our intellectual property that they can.
  I would say to our European, Japanese, and Australian allies, stick 
with us on this; it will benefit everybody--everybody. China is our No. 
1 global competitor, and it is about time they played fair. What was 
done yesterday with Huawei by Secretary Ross will help make that 
happen, and it is a very good decision.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Scott of Florida). The Senator from 
Missouri.