In a second scenario, if Schumer and Manchin’s talks fall apart as Build Back Better talks did in December, then all sides simply let the China bill move forward.
Given this real possibility, Republican and Democratic staff are continuing to work on the details of the House and Senate China bills to try to make progress on a unified bill that could pass both chambers.
The biggest differences remaining on the competition bill revolve around trade policy, according to people familiar with the situation. Democrats are trying to add payments to workers displaced by trade deals under a program called Trade Adjustment Assistance.
There is also controversy over restrictions on investments by Americans and American companies in China, and a research and development tax provision. Democrats are widely seen walking away from an attempt to add immigration visa expansion and climate provisions to the bill after earlier dropping a marijuana banking provision.
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