Bill · S. 5081· Senate(119-S-5081)
Congressional Trade Powers Reform Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 7/22/2026
- Last activity
- 7/22/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Ron Wyden
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This legislation is titled the Congressional Trade Powers Reform Act of 2026. It reclaims the authority of Congress over the imposition of duties and other trade actions. The bill establishes a new Joint Committee on Tariffs and Trade to review presidential trade proposals. It requires any trade agreement that binds the United States to first be approved by law. Additionally, the bill moves the Office of the United States Trade Representative outside of the Executive Office of the President and establishes an Inspector General for that office. Furthermore, it repeals certain existing trade authorities related to balance-of-payments and foreign discrimination.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+5
The bill creates a Joint Committee on Tariffs and Trade and an Inspector General to increase oversight and transparency of trade actions.
Would union members be better off under this?+3
The bill strengthens the ability of Congress to regulate import competition, which can protect unionized domestic industries.
Would business owners be better off under this?+2
The bill provides domestic business owners more legislative recourse to challenge trade actions through Congress.
The opposite
Does this make trade with other countries easier?-2
By requiring congressional approval for all binding trade agreements, the bill may slow down the process of international trade negotiations.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 301 requires that any trade agreement binding the United States must first be approved by an Act of Congress. This provision ensures that elected officials are held accountable by giving the people's representatives a direct voice in trade agreements that require changes to United States law.
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Section 303 establishes an Inspector General for the Office of the United States Trade Representative. This creates independent oversight to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse within the agency, which protects the interests of the people.
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Section 101 establishes the Joint Committee on Tariffs and Trade to review trade actions proposed by the President. This increases transparency and allows congressional oversight over trade policy.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Section 1001 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as added by Section 101, dictates that trade actions taken by the President under specific statutes will terminate not later than 180 days after taking effect unless a joint resolution of approval is enacted into law. This temporary duration could create instability or uncertainty for United States industries and workers who rely on long-term trade protections.
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Section 201 repeals the balance-of-payments authority found in section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Removing this authority could limit the tools available to address sudden and severe balance-of-payments deficits.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Union Workers+3Good For Business Owners+2Good For Low Income Households+1Good For Middle Class Households+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+5
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+1Improves Small Business Support+1
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+1Improves International Trade-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+1
- 7/22/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate