GAO Tells Congress It Can't Undo Japan Critical Minerals Deal

The Government Accountability Office told Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, that Congress can't vote to overturn the Japan critical minerals agreement.

Rules promulgated by federal agencies can be overturned by a majority in Congress, though generally, a president will veto that resolution of disapproval, unless the rule was promulgated by a predecessor.

The GAO concluded that the critical minerals agreement was a trade agreement entered into on behalf of the U.S. government, not a rule promulgated by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and therefore, can't be subject to a disapproval resolution.