HR1903-119

What This Bill Does

The Congressional Trade Authority Act sharply limits unilateral section 232 tariff and quota authority. It narrows covered articles to those tied to military equipment, energy resources, or critical infrastructure essential to national security, and defines national security as protection from foreign aggression rather than general welfare. It gives the Secretary of Defense the lead investigation role, requires a Commerce import assessment, and requires Defense and Commerce to jointly report findings and recommendations. A presidential import-adjustment proposal would take effect only if Congress enacts a joint resolution of approval within 60 days under fast-track House Ways and Means and Senate Finance procedures. The bill also creates a United States International Trade Commission exclusion process for covered articles, requires ITC economic-impact reports, requires annual GAO audits of exclusions, limits approved actions to three years, and applies approval requirements to recent section 232 actions with duty reversion and liquidation/reliquidation procedures if approval is not enacted.

Who Benefits and How

Congress benefits because section 232 tariffs and quotas would require affirmative approval rather than unilateral presidential action. Import-dependent manufacturers benefit from an ITC exclusion process when tariffs would cause severe economic harm or block critical infrastructure contracts. Low- and middle-income consumers benefit from exclusion criteria that account for unreasonable price increases on day-to-day items. Businesses affected by recent section 232 tariffs benefit if unapproved actions terminate and duty rates revert.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The President loses unilateral authority to impose or continue section 232 import restrictions without congressional approval. The Defense Department must lead national-security import investigations and coordinate with Commerce. The International Trade Commission must administer exclusions, publish procedures, explain denials, and report on economic effects. Customs and Border Protection must handle duty reversion, liquidation, reliquidation, and refund processing for terminated actions. Domestic industries protected by section 232 tariffs may face more exclusions or termination of import restrictions.

Key Provisions

• Restricts section 232 to covered articles tied to military equipment, energy resources, or critical infrastructure.
• Requires Defense-led investigations, Commerce assessments, and joint findings before presidential import adjustments.
• Requires a joint resolution of congressional approval within 60 days before proposed section 232 actions have force and effect.
• Creates an ITC exclusion process, GAO audits, economic-impact reports, three-year sunsets, and review of recent section 232 actions.