HR 407119th CongressIn Committee

Prevent Tariff Abuse Act

Introduced: Jan 15, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

Prevent Tariff Abuse Act would bar the President from using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose import duties or quotas. Specifically, the bill adds a new provision to Section 203 of IEEPA stating that the authority granted under that section does not include the power to impose duties, tariff-rate quotas, or other quotas on goods entering the United States. The bill also rearranges the existing subsections by redesignating subsection (c) as (d) and inserting the new prohibition as subsection (c). In short, it narrows the executive’s emergency powers by removing tariffs and quotas as potential tools under IEEPA, while leaving other IEEPA authorities intact. The act was introduced in the House on January 15, 2025, with a group of sponsors led by Ms. DelBene and referred to the Foreign Affairs and Ways and Means committees for consideration.

Key Points

1Prohibits use of IEEPA to impose tariffs or quotas: The new subsection (c) clarifies that IEEPA authorities do not include the power to impose duties, tariff-rate quotas, or other import quotas.
2Legislative change to IEEPA: The change is accomplished by redesignating the existing subsection (c) as (d) and inserting the new subsection (c) after subsection (b).
3Short title: The act is titled the “Prevent Tariff Abuse Act.”
4Scope is limited to IEEPA: The bill does not remove all tariff authority in U.S. law; it only eliminates the use of IEEPA as a vehicle for imposing tariffs or quotas.
5House introduction and committees: Introduced January 15, 2025 by a group of Representatives led by Ms. DelBene; referred to the Foreign Affairs and Ways and Means committees for jurisdictional review.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- U.S. policymakers and executive agencies involved in trade and national security (e.g., President, USTR, Department of Commerce) who would lose IEEPA-based tariff/quota authorities.- Importers, manufacturers, and industries that could be affected by tariffs or quotas, who would lose a potential emergency tool to influence trade or retaliate.Secondary group/area affected- U.S. trade partners and foreign governments affected by potential tariff actions, since the immediate tool under IEEPA would no longer be available.Additional impacts- Policy flexibility: Reduces the executive branch’s toolkit for rapid economic measures during national emergencies, possibly increasing reliance on Congress or other statutory authorities for tariffs.- Legislative implications: May prompt consideration or reform of alternative authorities (e.g., tariffs under other statutes or sanctions authorities) if policymakers seek to maintain a retaliatory or protective trade policy.- Economic effects: If tariffs or quotas are later constrained or forbidden under IEEPA, there could be shifts in how emergencies are managed economically and how industries affected by trade disruptions are supported.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Nov 18, 2025