Sponsors (12)
The bill trades reduced executive trade-enforcement discretion (likely lower consumer prices and more predictable rules) for less rapid, unilateral leverage to counter foreign trade discrimination, which could delay relief and raise costs for U.S. businesses.
U.S. consumers and importers: likely lower prices because the President would no longer be able to impose additional unilateral duties under §1338.
Small businesses and federal employees: increased predictability in trade enforcement because the executive branch would have reduced discretion to use ad hoc duties or exclusions.
Small exporters and affected firms: lost ability for the President to respond quickly to foreign trade discrimination and a shift of disputes into slower congressional or multilateral processes could delay relief and raise compliance and legal costs.
Small exporters and U.S. exporters generally: removal of a unilateral retaliatory tool weakens U.S. leverage to counter foreign discrimination, potentially making it harder to defend U.S. commerce abroad.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Removes 19 U.S.C. § 1338, eliminating the President's statutory authority to impose extra duties or exclude imports in response to foreign discrimination against U.S. commerce.
Official title: To repeal section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930.
Introduced March 27, 2025 by Brad Schneider · Last progress March 27, 2025
Repeals the statutory authority in 19 U.S.C. § 1338 that currently lets the President impose extra duties, exclude imports, or take related trade actions when a foreign country discriminates against U.S. commerce or imposes burdens on U.S. commerce. The result is removal of the specific unilateral tariff and exclusion powers, procedures, and discretionary proclamation authority formerly available under that statute. The bill contains two short sections: a short title and the repeal of the named Tariff Act provision. It does not create new authorities, appropriate funds, or specify alternative tools or procedures to respond to foreign discriminatory trade practices.