CEI Joins Coalition Letter Urging Congress to Support Congressional Approval for Trade Expansion Act of 1962 Section 232 Designations
Dear Member of Congress:
On behalf of the millions of taxpayers, consumers, farmers, and businesses represented by our 38 organizations in all 50 states, we urge your support for the bicameral, bipartisan “Congressional Trade Authority Act.” This legislation would amend the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to require Congressional approval before the President adjusts imports – often through tariffs or quotas – that are determined to impair national security.
Under this reform, any potential tariffs to be applied under Section 232 would be submitted to Congress and taken up within 60 days via an expedited procedure to ensure timely consideration. The bill would redefine the currently overly broad “national security” designation for 232 investigations to goods involving military equipment, energy resources, and critical infrastructure while also transferring investigative authority to the Department of Defense.
A four-year reach-back mechanism would capture recent trade decisions and bring them in line with this improved approach. And the bill would require the International Trade Commission (ITC) to administer an exclusion process that would apply to all importers of specific items for future Section 232 actions.
These commonsense reforms would reduce the misuse of alleged national security threats for costly, protectionist ends and help more appropriately balance power between the legislative and executive branches.
Ongoing trade uncertainty and harsh new tariffs are a serious threat to consumers and the economy that could undermine recent growth. Already, agriculture exports like soy beans have experienced significant losses. The cost of automobiles, both those imported and assembled in the U.S., could soar by an added $1,262 to $5,089. Numerous industries, such as boat and farm implement manufacturers, have also seen tariffs increase costs, eroding their profitability. This pain promises to grow worse – and to spread to all corners of the economy and family budgets.
Congress needs to take urgent action to stabilize our precarious trade environment. Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the authority to impose tariffs and regulate foreign commerce. This is an essential power that Congress should use to prevent damaging trade policies that could hurt our economy, farmers, American workers, and consumers. We support this and other efforts to restore Congressional powers over tariffs and other barriers to trade.
We applaud Senators Toomey (R-PA), Warner (D-VA), Sasse (R-NE), and Hassan (D-NH) along with Representatives Gallagher (R-WI), Kind (D-WI), LaHood (R-IL), and Panetta (D-CA) for their bipartisan leadership on this important issue. We strongly urge all Members of Congress to cosponsor the “Congressional Trade Authority Act” and work toward its swift enactment.
Sincerely,
National Taxpayers Union
Americans For Prosperity
ALEC Action
American Apparel & Footwear Association
American Bakers Association
American Commitment
Americans for Tax Reform
Beer Institute
Campaign for Liberty
Center for Freedom and Prosperity
Club for Growth
Coalition of American Metal Manufacturers and Users
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Digital Liberty
Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce
FreedomWorks
Heritage Action for America
Hispanic Leadership Fund
National Confectioners Association
National Marine Manufacturers Association
National Restaurant Association
National Retail Federation
National Tooling & Machining Association
Niskanen Center
North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers
Precious Metals Association of North America
Precision Machined Products Association
Precision Metalforming Association
R Street Institute
Secure America’s Future Economy
Specialty Equipment Market Association
Taxpayers for Common Sense
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Retail Industry Leaders Association
Association of Global Automakers
Here For America