Congress would reclaim power over trade decisions, requiring approval for presidential actions and agreements.
This bill would make Congress approve many major trade actions and all binding trade agreements, which currently the President can do alone. It would also move the U.S. Trade Representative's office outside the President's direct control, making it a more independent agency. This aims to give Congress more say in how the U.S. handles international trade.
Today, the President can take many major trade actions and enter into binding trade agreements without needing a specific law passed by Congress. If this bill becomes law, these presidential trade actions would require a new, specific Congressional approval process, including a joint resolution of approval within 30 days. All trade agreements that would change or maintain U.S. law would also need to be approved by an Act of Congress.
S 5081 · 119th Congress · July 22, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 9/10
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