Rep. Mike Kennedy, R-Utah, on Dec. 4 introduced a House companion to a Senate bill that would sanction Chinese individuals and entities that engage in a pattern of theft of intellectual property from the U.S. (see 2501310002). The Combatting China’s Pilfering of Intellectual Property Act, or CCP IP Act, was referred to the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees. Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, reintroduced the Senate version in January.

A bipartisan, bicameral group of four lawmakers led by House Select Committee on China ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., has introduced a bill aimed at helping the U.S. improve its use of sanctions against China for conducting oil and missile-related trade with Iran.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., on Dec. 11 urged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to testify on Capitol Hill in response to the Trump administration allowing sales of the company's more advanced H200 AI chips to China. Warren said during a floor speech that she is concerned that President Donald Trump may force DOJ to curtail a crackdown begun earlier this week on smuggling of such chips to China (see 2512090022). “Will Donald Trump muzzle his own [DOJ] because he does not want Americans to know that he is selling out our national security?” she asked. The White House, Commerce Department and Nvidia didn't immediately comment.

The House voted late Dec. 10 to pass the final FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes legislation to limit U.S. outbound investment in China and repeal a Syria sanctions law (see 2512080048).

The Senate approved a bill late Dec. 8 that would allow the president to use International Emergency Economic Powers Act sanctions against transnational criminal organizations that conduct large-scale cyber scams targeting Americans (see 2510010059).

A host of lawmakers criticized President Donald Trump’s decision this week to allow Nvidia to export its H200 chips to China (see 2512080059), saying it will help Beijing catch up to the U.S. in AI. Others were sympathetic or non-committal.

Almost 75 House members, from both parties, asked the U.S. trade representative to hold Canada accountable for not meeting its dairy commitments under USMCA. The U.S. already brought two panels against Canada over the issue of its tariff rate quota administration, and while it won some arguments in the first dispute, Canada's fixes were ruled adequate in the second (see 2311240002).

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. is reviewing a Chinese company’s "deeply concerning" investment in Minnesota-based startup FastWave Medical, which is developing a new high-tech treatment for serious heart disease, Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., disclosed Dec. 1.

The Trump administration’s recent decision to remove sanctions on former Serb Republic President Milorad Dodik was a “mistake” because it "prematurely" gave up “leverage” it needs to promote stability in the Western Balkans, a foreign policy expert told a congressional panel Dec. 2.

Reps. Max Miller, R-Ohio, and Jefferson Shreve, R-Ind., introduced a bill Dec. 1 that would broaden the authority of the Bureau of Industry and Security to place companies on its Entity List.