House Chairs Call for China IP Theft Report

The Chairmen of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and the House Committee on Small Business, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), have requested a formal briefing from Attorney General Merrick Garland on the Department of Justice's (DOJ) current efforts to curb intellectual property (IP) theft from China. They demanded detailed insights by June 30, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.

In a joint letter, the representatives addressed the pervasive issue of Chinese IP theft, particularly its impact on American small businesses. Their primary concern is that these crimes could potentially undermine the American economy's backbone, disrupting innovation and jeopardizing national security.

The Chairmen's appeal cited a 2018 report by the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which highlighted China's systematic acquisition of U.S. companies and assets to acquire advanced technologies and intellectual property.

Gallagher and Williams noted the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property's alarming finding that Chinese IP theft costs the American economy $600 billion annually. They underscored the pressing need for the DOJ to intensify its efforts to counteract this significant threat, using all available tools and capabilities.

The letter requested an in-depth briefing on multiple topics, including the DOJ's strategies for assisting small businesses in protecting their IP rights, particularly in relation to China, the implementation status of the Protect American IP Act of 2022, and plans for strengthening investigative efforts against IP theft.