US Ports under Threat: Bill to Block China and Adversaries from Accessing

A new bill has been introduced in Congress to protect America's supply chains and national security by blocking companies owned by state-owned enterprises in China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from operating or managing US ports. The Secure Our Ports Act, introduced by GOP Rep. Michelle Steel, addresses concerns about the potential for adversaries to access US shipping infrastructure and disrupt trade.

Congresswoman Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) has unveiled a bill that seeks to protect US ports from access by China and other American adversaries. The Secure Our Ports Act would prohibit companies owned fully or in-part by state-owned enterprises in China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from operating or managing any US port.

US Ports under Threat: Bill to Block China and Adversaries from Accessing

Steel, a member of the House Select Committee on Communist China, emphasizes the potential harm to US supply chains if adversaries gain access to US ports. She explains that this would enable them to access shipping infrastructure, potentially disrupting trade and the movement of goods.

The bill has received support from national security and defense officials who have expressed concerns about the potential use of giant cargo cranes at US ports as Chinese spying tools. Officials suggest that Chinese equipment and cranes could be used for surveillance purposes.

US Ports under Threat: Bill to Block China and Adversaries from Accessing

Steel's bill is intended to address these concerns by preventing companies owned by state-owned enterprises in China and other adversaries from operating or managing US ports. This would prevent them from gaining access to shipping infrastructure and the potential for surveillance or disruption of trade.

Steel's home region in Southern California is home to two of the largest ports in the country: the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach. She emphasizes the importance of protecting these ports from potential threats posed by adversaries.

US Ports under Threat: Bill to Block China and Adversaries from Accessing

Multiple China-owned conglomerates currently have an active presence in American ports, including COSCO on the West Coast and COFCO on the Mississippi River. Steel's bill aims to block these companies from operating or managing US ports, mitigating the potential risks they pose to national security.

The bill has been co-sponsored by several other Republican representatives, including Stephanie Bice, Ken Calvert, Rick Crawford, Richard Hudson, Doug LaMalfa, Nicole Malliotakis, James Moylan, Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, John Rutherford, and Randy Weber.

US Ports under Threat: Bill to Block China and Adversaries from Accessing

The Secure Our Ports Act is a response to growing concerns about the potential for Chinese and other adversarial countries to gain access to US ports and potentially disrupt trade or engage in surveillance activities. The bill aims to protect America's economic and national security by restricting enemy governments from having high-level access to US port infrastructure.

By prohibiting companies owned by state-owned enterprises in China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from operating or managing US ports, the bill would mitigate the potential for adversaries to access sensitive infrastructure and compromise US supply chains.

The bill is expected to face scrutiny from opponents who may argue that it could harm economic relations or trade ties with these countries. However, proponents of the bill prioritize the importance of protecting national security and preventing potential threats to US ports.