Bill to Constrain Administration on Tariffs Introduced in House

A bill that would allow Congress to reject safeguard tariffs and Section 301 tariffs, and that would require congressional approval before Section 232 tariffs could go into effect was introduced in the House of Representatives Sept. 26. The bill, called the Promoting Responsible and Free Trade Act, has co-sponsors Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., and Rep. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., who was defeated in a primary earlier this year, ostensibly in retaliation for being insufficiently loyal to Donald Trump.

This bill will expire at the end of the current Congress in December, but could be reintroduced next year. "Our Founding Fathers were deliberate in setting up a system of checks and balances, and regardless of your views on the global trading system, the underlying balance of powers should be respected. Given recent events, I think Congress needs to reclaim its seat at the table, and this bill is a simple and effective way to give Congress a more proactive role in trade policy," Sanford said in a press release announcing the bill.

Section 301 and 232 tariffs could go forward without congressional approval if both chambers did not act with a joint resolution of disapproval within 60 days of notification from the International Trade Commission, in the case of safeguards, or from the U.S. trade representative, in the case of Section 301 tariffs. The bill would allow Congress to undo existing Section 232 tariffs, as Sen. Bob Corker's bill also does (see 1807120023). A bill from Sen Rob Portman, R-Ohio, is only prospective (see 1808010048).