Section 232 Reform Bill Reintroduced in Senate

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, one of the leaders of an effort to give Congress more of a voice in Section 232 tariffs, reintroduced a bipartisan bill with six co-sponsors that would give the Defense Department responsibility for certifying that imports are a national security threat, and would allow Congress to rescind trade restrictions under Section 232 through the use of a joint resolution of disapproval. Portman explained that disapproval is limited to oil restrictions, and that was added to the statute in 1980 “in response to concerns about the misuse of the statute.”

The Trade Security Act, reintroduced March 15, is co-sponsored by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Todd Young, R-Ind.

“I originally introduced this bill over concerns regarding the previous administration’s intent to misuse Section 232 statute to impose tariffs on automobiles and auto parts, which would have a devastating impact on Ohio jobs and the U.S. economy as a whole,” Portman said in a press release announcing the reintroduction. “As a former U.S. Trade Representative, I know that misusing our trade tools not only hurts our exports and our manufacturers, but also our consumers, so I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.”

“During this pandemic that has disrupted our domestic supply chains, we need to be especially vigilant about how Section 232 is used,” Young said in the press release. The bill, if passed, would not give Congress the power to reverse the steel and aluminum tariffs and quotas.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told International Trade Today during a press call March 16 that he hasn't decided whether he'll join Portman's bill, or a bill previously introduced by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., which gave Congress more power to intervene. That bill would sunset Section 232 tariffs unless approved by Congress, and also gave Congress the power to eliminate the steel and aluminum tariffs. He said he could join both, in the interest of encouraging senators to compromise.