WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) introduced the Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2025, legislation that would support American honey producers and producers of other commodities, like crawfish, garlic, and mushrooms, who have been harmed by unfair trade practices, primarily by China.
For decades, Minnesota honey producers harmed by unfair Chinese trade practices have been waiting for relief they were entitled to by law. This legislation would return wrongfully withheld interest from duties that were imposed for cheating American trade rules back to qualifying producers, including beekeepers.
“Minnesota farmers produce some of the highest quality honey in the world, and they shouldn’t be unfairly harmed because China doesn’t play by the rules and engages in illegal dumping,” said Senator Smith. “I’m proud to lead this bipartisan bill to give Minnesota apiaries the relief they are owed so they can remain competitive and strong for years to come.”
“South Dakota is one of the top honey-producing states in the country,” said Senator Thune. “The unfair practice of circumventing U.S. trade laws, which jeopardizes honey producers’ financial security, should be met with strict enforcement and increased protections. South Dakota honey producers deserve a level playing field. This bipartisan legislation helps ensure fair treatment for affected domestic producers and strengthens their ability to compete globally.”
“On behalf of Minnesotan beekeepers, I want to thank Senator Smith for introducing the Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2025 along with other members of Congress that will provide long-overdue relief,” said Burt Honl of Honl’s Honey, a third-generation beekeeper based in Winthrop, MN. “Our industry has been harmed over the last two decades by unfair foreign competition and this legislation will make sure that all collected duties and interest that has erroneously been withheld will finally be distributed to qualifying Minnesotan beekeepers who need these funds to compete. We are grateful for your leadership, Senator Smith.”
“U.S. beekeepers, as both honey producers and crop pollinators, are a critical component of American food security and the U.S. agriculture economy, supporting workers and communities around the country and right here in Minnesota,” said Ryan Lamb, a beekeeper from Minnesota. “On behalf of Minnesotan beekeepers, we want to thank Senator Smith for joining Senator Thune and Grassley in introducing the Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2025 that will once and for all ensure we receive payments to which we are entitled that will help us compete in what has become a very challenging landscape for beekeepers.”
“American honey producers were severely harmed by unfairly traded imports,” said Steven Coy, President of the American Honey Producers Association. “The Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2025 finally provides producers the funds taken from duties related to interest on unfairly traded imports that they are entitled to in order to help our members reinvest and rebuild. We thank Senators Thune, Grassley, and Smith for introducing this important legislation that will finally get American honey producers what they deserve.”
The Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2025 builds on a provision that was signed into law in 2015 as part of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act that required CBP to distribute the interest realized on duties collected since 2014.
The legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
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