For more information on pursuing trade policy interests through the legislative process, please contact Nicole Bivens Collinson at (202) 730-4956 or via email.
Tariffs. The Trade Review Act (H.R. 2665, introduced April 7 by Reps. Bacon, R-Neb., and Meeks, D-N.Y.) would increase congressional oversight of the president’s ability to unilaterally impose import tariffs by (1) requiring the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of imposing or increasing a duty on imported goods, including an explanation and assessment of its impact on U.S. businesses and consumers, (2) limiting the duration of such duties to 60 days unless Congress enacts a joint resolution of approval to extend them, (3) allowing Congress to end tariffs early by passing a joint resolution of disapproval, (4) excluding antidumping and countervailing duties from this process, and (5) providing expedited procedures for congressional consideration of resolutions of approval or disapproval.
H.R. 2712 (introduced April 8 by Rep. Gottheimer, D-N.J.) would limit the president’s authority to modify import duty rates for national security reasons and limit the authority of the U.S. trade representative to impose certain duties or import restrictions.
H.J.Res. 91 (introduced April 8 by Rep. Meeks, D-N.Y.), a privileged resolution normally required by to be voted on by the House within a specified time frame, would terminate the national emergency declared by President Trump on April 2 that is the statutory authority being cited for the president’s reciprocal tariffs. S.J.Res. 49 (introduced April 10 by Sen. Wyden, D-Ore.) would also terminate that national emergency.
The Stop Raising Prices on Food Act (H.R. 2842, introduced April 10 by Rep. Gray, D-Calif.) would limit the president’s authority to impose new or additional duties with respect to articles imported from countries that are major agricultural trade partners with the U.S.
The Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act (H.R. 2888, introduced April 10 by all Democrat members of the House Ways and Means Committee) would terminate certain import tariffs imposed pursuant to emergency authorities (including “reciprocal” tariffs as well as tariffs imposed by executive order on imports from Canada and Mexico) and require congressional approval for the imposition of similar tariffs.
S. 1364 (introduced April 9 by Sen. Cortez Masto, D-Nev.) would exempt articles imported from Israel or Ukraine from U.S. reciprocal tariffs.
Import fees. The Foreign Pollution Fee Act (S. 1325, introduced April 8 by Sen. Cassidy, R-La.) would impose a three-tiered system of fees on certain imported products based on the pollution intensity associated with their production. Fees would be 5-25 percent of the customs value of the imported goods for modest polluters, 25-80 percent for high polluters, and 80-100 percent for the worst offenders. Covered industry sectors include iron, steel, aluminum, cement, glass, fertilizer, hydrogen, solar components, and certain battery inputs. The bill would provide anti-evasion authority for the Department of Commerce, impose traceability requirements for importers, and allow facility-specific exemptions.
Export controls. The House Foreign Affairs Committee voted unanimously April 9 to favorably report the Remote Access Security Act (H.R. 2683, introduced April 7 by Rep. Lawler, R-N.Y.), which Lawler said would close a loophole in U.S. export control law that has allowed companies aligned with the Chinese Communist Party to access restricted U.S. technology through cloud services.
The Stop Stealing Our Chips Act (S. 1473, introduced April 10 by Sens. Rounds, R-S.D., and Warner, D-Va.) would amend the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to (1) require the Bureau of Industry and Security to create a secure public platform for submitting whistleblower reports of illegal exports and (2) establish a fund, financed by fines collected from export control violations, to cover whistleblower rewards and program operations.
Forced labor. The Transaction and Securing Knowledge Act (S. 1358, introduced April 8 by Sen. Scott, R-Fla.) would require the Securities and Exchange Commission to require reporting of sourcing and due diligence activities of companies involving supply chains of imported products that are directly linked to products utilizing forced labor from Xinjiang, China.
The Stop Corrupt Communist Party Money Laundering Act (S. 1339, introduced April 8 by Sens. Curtis, R-Utah, and Merkley, D-Ore.) would require (1) the Treasury Department to determine if Hong Kong is a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern, using detailed justification, and (2) a report from the State Department to assess whether financial institutions operating in Hong Kong are able to detect and prevent transactions that facilitate illegal transfers of products, technology, and funds to Russia, Iran, and other sanctioned entities or that violate U.S. export controls and sanctions.
Import safety. H.R. 2776 (introduced April 9 by Rep. Higgins, R-La.) would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to ensure the safety of imported seafood.
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