Sponsors (13)
The bill strengthens U.S. defenses against foreign expropriation and allows blocking goods or services tied to seized ports—providing clearer remedies and transparency for American businesses—while creating meaningful risks of supply disruptions, maritime industry losses, diplomatic friction, enforcement costs, and increased litigation.
Importers and U.S. consumers face reduced exposure to goods tied to foreign seizure because imports loaded at ports seized by a foreign government can be blocked.
U.S. businesses and investors gain clearer legal grounds to challenge foreign expropriation or discriminatory treatment of their assets under Title III, improving avenues for remedy.
Americans holding assets abroad receive stronger recognition and protection of property and due-process expectations in U.S. trade law.
Small businesses, importers, and consumers could face supply disruptions and higher prices if cargo is blocked after a port is designated.
Commercial vessels and maritime service providers (repairs, refueling, docking) may lose business when ships that called designated ports are barred from U.S. services.
Countries covered by the rule (e.g., Western Hemisphere FTA partners) may view the measures as punitive, risking diplomatic friction, reduced cooperation, and retaliatory measures.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires DHS (with Treasury and State) to list foreign ports on U.S.-controlled land seized on/after Jan 1, 2024, bars vessels linked to those ports from U.S. port services, and expands Trade Act criteria to include expropriation and discrimination.
Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, with concurrence from the Secretaries of the Treasury and State, to identify and publish a list within 60 days of foreign ports, harbors, or marine terminals that sit on land owned or controlled by a U.S. person and that a covered foreign trade partner has seized, nationalized, or otherwise taken control of on or after Jan 1, 2024. Vessels loaded at or previously held at any listed locations would be barred from unloading cargo, disembarking passengers, or receiving port services in the United States. The bill also expands the Trade Act’s list of foreign acts that may be found "unreasonable or discriminatory" to explicitly include expropriation, arbitrary treatment, denial of due process, and nationality-based discrimination of U.S. persons' assets.
Introduced July 21, 2025 by William Francis Hagerty · Last progress July 21, 2025