Repealing Outdated and Unilateral Tariff Authorities Act

Summary

Repeals the U.S. statute (19 U.S.C. § 1338) that currently authorizes the President to impose additional duties, exclude imports, or take related actions when a foreign country discriminates against or burdens U.S. commerce. The bill removes the President’s discretionary authority and all procedures that were set out in that statute. Removing this authority would limit one existing unilateral tool for responding to foreign trade discrimination and shift the balance of available enforcement options to other statutes, trade remedies, and diplomatic or multilateral channels.

• Removes the federal law (19 U.S.C. § 1338) that lets the President impose duties or exclude imports in response to foreign discrimination against U.S. commerce.
• Strips the President of the specific discretionary authority and procedures created by that statute.
• Does not provide replacement enforcement mechanisms, funding, or procedures.
• Other trade enforcement tools and laws remain available but may not fully substitute for the repealed authority.
• Could reduce the U.S. government's ability to act quickly and unilaterally in response to certain foreign trade measures.
• May shift more responses to diplomatic, multilateral, or legislative channels and to other statutory authorities.
• Could create legal and operational questions about how existing or future trade disputes are handled without this authority.
• The text does not specify an effective date or transitional provisions.