U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced legislation to end handouts to China funded by American taxpayers by removing China’s outdated designation as a 'developing country' in international treaties.
Introduce legislation to remove China’s designation as a 'developing country' in international treaties and end U.S. taxpayer funding advantages for China.
Occurrences
recently introduced legislation that would end handouts to China funded by American taxpayers by removing China’s outdated designation as a “developing country” in international treaties. The Ending China’s Unfair Advantage Act would prohibit any American taxpayer dollars from funding a United Nations treaty known as the Montreal Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) until China is no longer defined as a developing country.
Evidence
U.S. Senator John Barrasso introduced the Ending China’s Unfair Advantage Act to prohibit American taxpayer dollars from funding the Montreal Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change until China is no longer defined as a developing country.
The Ending China's Unfair Advantage Act of 2025, introduced by Senator Barrasso, aims to prohibit funding for the Montreal Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change until China is no longer defined as a developing country.
Senator Barrasso introduced legislation to end lending to China from multilateral development banks, including the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, citing China's status as the world's second-largest economy.
The official title of S.680 is 'A bill to prohibit funding for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change until China is no longer defined as a developing country.'
Congress.gov shows S.680 (sponsored by Sen. John Barrasso) was introduced 02/20/2025 and was "Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations." The bill status remains "Introduced" with no subsequent committee action or floor votes recorded.
Senator Barrasso's official Senate press release describes his introduction of the "Ending China's Unfair Advantage Act," which would prohibit U.S. taxpayer funding for the Montreal Protocol and UNFCCC mechanisms until China is no longer designated a "developing country."
Congress.gov shows Sen. Barrasso as sponsor of S.680, introduced on 2025-02-20 and referred to Senate Foreign Relations; the bill tracker still lists the measure as Introduced.
Assessments
The claim promised introduction of legislation, not enactment. Barrasso sponsored and introduced S.680, the Ending China's Unfair Advantage Act, on February 20, 2025, to bar certain U.S. funding advantages for China until it is no longer treated as a developing country in specified international frameworks. Although the bill did not advance beyond referral, the promised action of introducing legislation was completed while he was serving in office.
Sen. Barrasso sponsored and publicly introduced S.680 ("Ending China's Unfair Advantage Act") on 02/20/2025, a bill that would withhold U.S. funding for the Montreal Protocol and the UNFCCC until China is no longer defined as a "developing country." Congress.gov confirms the bill was officially introduced and referred to committee. The campaign promise asked for introducing legislation to remove China’s developing-country advantages; the introduction of S.680 satisfies that promise even though the bill has not been enacted.
Senator Barrasso introduced multiple pieces of legislation aimed at removing China's 'developing country' designation in the context of international agreements and ending associated U.S. taxpayer funding advantages. However, the evidence shows actions limited to legislative introduction and not successful passage into law or resulting policy changes. Thus, while effort was made and the promise was partially delivered upon, the full outcome was not achieved.