ANTE Act

Summary

Authorizes the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to investigate and, with Presidential direction, impose duties or other remedies on goods made in a third country by entities tied to a nonmarket-economy country when those investments or production appear intended to evade existing section 301 tariffs. It sets timing rules for inquiries and determinations, requires federal agencies to provide information on request, and ties the length of any imposed measures to the duration of the original section 301 action or the foreign country’s controlling interest in the entity.

• Gives USTR explicit authority to investigate and act against third-country production aimed at evading section 301 tariffs.
• Targets "covered entities" tied by ownership or control to nonmarket-economy countries.
• Allows USTR to self-initiate inquiries or act on requests, including from Congress.
• Requires other federal agencies to provide information requested by USTR for investigations.
• Sets timelines: 45 days to decide whether to open an inquiry and 180 days to make an evasion determination after initiation.
• Remedial measures may include duties at least equal to the value of the evaded section 301 duty.
• Any remedies last for the duration of the underlying section 301 action or while the foreign nonmarket-economy country retains controlling interest.
• USTR must justify to Congress if it decides not to impose measures after an investigation.
• Adds definitions (e.g., control, covered entity, nonmarket economy country) to clarify scope and applicability.