- Potential benefitRestores greater Congressional control over tariff-policy decisions previously enabled by the repealed provision.
- Potential benefitReduces the risk of unilateral executive tariff actions that supporters may view as outdated.
- Potential benefitIncreases policy predictability for trading partners by removing an assertedly obsolete authority.
Repealing Outdated and Unilateral Tariff Authorities Act
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
This bill repeals section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1338). In effect, it removes the statutory authority contained in that single section.
Liberals emphasize limiting unilateral executive power and predictable trade rules.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a concise statutory repeal that precisely identifies the provision to be removed but provides little accompanying explanatory, fiscal, transitional, or oversight detail.
This bill repeals section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1338).
In effect, it removes the statutory authority contained in that single section.
The bill text does not include the text of 19 U.S.C. 1338, so downstream effects depend on that provision's substance.
Very narrow and clear drafting aids passage, but uncertain policy impacts, absent compromise features, and potential partisan trade disputes lower likelihood.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a concise statutory repeal that precisely identifies the provision to be removed but provides little accompanying explanatory, fiscal, transitional, or oversight detail.
Liberals emphasize limiting unilateral executive power and predictable trade rules.
Who stands to gain, and who may push back.
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
- Potential burdenReduces executive flexibility to respond rapidly to sudden import surges or unfair trade practices.
- Potential burdenMay require Congress to act more frequently on tariff changes, potentially creating procedural delays.
- Potential burdenCould remove a tool used for national security or emergency trade measures, according to critics.
Why the argument around this bill splits.
Liberals emphasize limiting unilateral executive power and predictable trade rules.
Likely supportive because the repeal limits unilateral executive tariff powers and can reinforce rule‑based trade governance.
They would still want safeguards for workers and communities affected by trade shifts.
Cautiously mixed.
Supports trimming outdated unilateral powers but wants clarity that necessary trade and national security tools remain.
Would favor replacement language or a review before repeal.
Likely opposed because it eliminates a statutory tariff tool that the executive or country might need to defend industries or respond to national security threats.
Skeptical of removing flexible trade levers.
The path through Congress.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Very narrow and clear drafting aids passage, but uncertain policy impacts, absent compromise features, and potential partisan trade disputes lower likelihood.
- Text and practical effects of 19 U.S.C. 1338
- Estimated federal revenue and budgetary impact
Recent votes on the bill.
No vote history yet
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Go deeper than the headline read.
Liberals emphasize limiting unilateral executive power and predictable trade rules.
Very narrow and clear drafting aids passage, but uncertain policy impacts, absent compromise features, and potential partisan trade dispute…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a concise statutory repeal that precisely identifies the provision to be removed but provides little accompanying explanatory, fiscal, transitional, or oversight d…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.