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Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) announced new legislation authored to prevent the Chinese Communist Party from meddling in the U.S. supply chain. The legislation prevents the United States Government and its contractors from using Chinese-based LOGINK, a shipping logistics and data platform that collects information from users at ports around the world. LOGINK collects real-time updates from its users which others on the platform are able to see and share. As detailed in the Wall Street Journal in December 2021, “even cargo that never touches Chinese shores often still passes through Beijing’s globe-spanning logistics networks,” highlighting a real concern for U.S. and allied shippers that are sending military equipment and sensitive cargo abroad.
“We cannot trust the Chinese Communist Party, who routinely violates international norms related to human rights, intellectual property and environmental standards. Our supply chains are already stretched thin, and we can’t risk the CCP stealing logistics information that could have massive implications on private companies and our national security,” said Rep. Steel. “Passing the NDAA with my amendment to prevent the CCP from disrupting our military’s navigational integrity was an important step in countering their increasing hostility towards free and sovereign nations around the world. Now we must pass this legislation and bring that same level of security to the entire federal government.”
Overseen by China’s Ministry of Transportation, LOGINK has been in operation since 2007. Concerns surrounding LOGINK are similar to those raised regarding Huawei and ZTE, which Congress banned U.S. agencies from using in 2019.
Last week Congress voted in support of Rep. Steel’s amendment to this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ban DOD and its contractors from using LOGINK. The legislation now awaits a conference with the U.S. Senate, who passed their own version of the annual defense package earlier this year.
