TOPEKA, Kan. — This year, state lawmakers nationwide have put forth over 240 proposals aimed at reducing Chinese influence by preventing the purchase of Chinese goods, including technology and everyday items like T-shirts, key chains, and coffee mugs. There is also a drive to sever sister-city associations between American and Chinese municipalities.
In a shift away from earlier years of embracing trade with China, U.S. states are now reluctant to see police forces utilize Chinese drones, allow government agencies to use Chinese-developed software, or engage in investments with Chinese firms via public pension funds. A new Kansas law takes aim at artificial intelligence and medical devices, while Arkansas has extended its reach to state and local government contracts for promotional goods and strengthening scrutiny over sister-city relations. Similarly, Tennessee has implemented measures to block health insurance coverage for organ transplants that involve China.
“Moving forward, either the United States or China will lead the global stage,” stated Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas after promoting a comprehensive “Communist China Defense” legislative package. “I am committed to ensuring it is the United States that leads.”
The trend to counteract China’s influence began even before President Donald Trump imposed hefty tariffs of 145% on Chinese imports, which has in turn inspired state leaders, especially those affiliated with the Republican Party. Sanders asserts that her campaign is in harmony with Trump’s trade stances.
Trump’s tenure marked a pivotal change in relations
This year alone, proposals with an anti-China sentiment have been launched in 41 states, most prominently in legislatures controlled by the GOP. Trump’s aggressive stance during his presidency sparked a shift, says Kyle Jaros, a global affairs expert at the University of Notre Dame, who explores state-level interactions with China. Along with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public sentiments, Trump’s rhetoric accelerated this legislative push.
“The approach under the Trump administration distinctly differed from that of previous administrations regarding local engagements with China. There seemed to be a lack of recognition of their value,” Jaros remarked.
An initiative with minimal political risk
According to David Adkins, who leads the nonpartisan Council on State Governments, taking a firm stance against China boasts significant appeal among U.S. voters across the political spectrum. “Lawmakers at all governmental levels face no repercussions for condemning China,” he explained in an electronic communication.
Analyzing lobbying dynamics, John David Minnich, a scholar specializing in modern China from the London School of Economics, attributes these legislative steps to calculated lobbying efforts rather than spontaneous public demand.
Incident with a Chinese balloon rings alarm bells
The U.S. has observed a growth in cyber-espionage reportedly bolstered by China. The apprehensions peaked when a Chinese balloon hovered over the nation in 2023, adding to perceptions of China as an imminent threat, observes Sara Newland, a government professor at Smith College, who collaborates with Jaros.
“There are concerns that investment could lead to direct surveillance by the Chinese government or compromise food security,” she elaborated.
Chris Croft, Majority Leader of the Kansas House and a former Army colonel, views thwarting China’s influence as a unified task for states and the federal government. He advocated for Kansas legislation restricting foreign nationals, like those from China, as well as Cuba, Iran, and North Korea, from owning property within a 100-mile radius of military sites.
“Every one of us has a role to play,” Croft emphasized.
State efforts regarded with skepticism
Even though there’s increasing favor for limiting foreign property ownership—with 46 different proposals across 24 states—critics liken it to selling snow shovels in Miami, due to its perceived impracticality. At the end of 2023, a U.S. Department of Agriculture report indicated that interests from China, Cuba, Iran, and North Korea collectively held less than 1% of the country’s 1.27 billion agricultural acres.
In Arkansas, the restriction on sister-city relationships impacts only the capital city, Little Rock.
Conservatives express reservations too
The scrutiny of anti-China measures extends to typically conservative areas like North Dakota, where a Chinese firm’s potential farmland development near an Air Force base fueled state-level countermeasures.
Some North Dakota legislators proposed divesting a state fund containing oil tax proceeds from Chinese entities. However, a weaker variant of the proposal was recently turned down by the Senate. During discussions, Republican Senator Dale Patten argued for consistency, noting the difficulty in disentangling from Chinese-manufactured consumer goods.
“It’s likely many of us here are wearing neckties made in China when we examine their labels,” Patten remarked, highlighting the challenges.
Continuing scrutiny on China
Following recent talks, Trump announced intentions to lower tariffs from 145%, although China has refuted ongoing negotiations with his administration. Minnich pointed out that should tariffs prompt China to recalibrate its U.S. relations, this might paradoxically undermine state-initiated measures.
In the foreseeable future, states appear resolved to sustain their legislative scrutiny of Chinese partnerships. Jaros underlined the necessity of this vigilance concerning cybersecurity threats and dependency on Chinese infrastructure.
“The majority of Chinese threats towards the U.S. manifest in cyberspace,” he asserted. “Our defenses in many areas are still forming.”