In recent developments concerning US-China relations, bipartisan efforts and union calls have highlighted increasing scrutiny over Chinese practices in technology and shipbuilding sectors. A proposed bill in the US House of Representatives targets TikTok, a popular social media platform owned by the China-based company ByteDance. This legislation, named Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, would require TikTok to divest a controlling share or face removal from US app stores, citing national security concerns. President Joe Biden has shown support for this initiative, while former President Donald Trump, who previously advocated for banning TikTok, has now deferred the choice to Congress. The bill aims to address issues surrounding foreign-owned apps by granting federal agencies the power to designate and potentially ban them based on connections to foreign adversaries.

Simultaneously, the United Steelworkers union, among others, has petitioned President Biden to investigate China’s allegedly unfair practices in the shipbuilding and maritime logistics sectors. Utilizing Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, the petition emphasizes China’s growing dominance in global shipbuilding, jumping from 12% to over 50% of the world’s commercial ship production by tonnage in 2023. The union’s concerns reflect broader apprehensions regarding China’s economic influence and potential security risks, particularly highlighted by the software platform Logink.

These movements come amid broader concerns over national security and economic competition between the US and China, with implications for both countries’ industries and relations. The decisions by the US administration could significantly affect TikTok’s future operations in the US and the state of the US commercial shipbuilding industry, among broader geopolitical and economic relations between the two global powers.