Trade Deficit Elimination Act of 2026

This bill would require the U.S. Trade Representative, within 30 days of the law taking effect and every April 1 after that, to identify each trading partner with which the United States buys more goods than it sells and publish a list of these "trade deficit economies" in the Federal Register. Within 15 days of publishing the list, the Trade Representative, under the President's direction, could impose or change duties on imports from those trading partners in amounts the President decides are needed to eliminate each trade deficit. Some goods could be exempted, such as critical raw materials, defense items, or goods that cannot be produced in enough quantity in the United States. The Trade Representative would have to consult with congressional trade committees before imposing duties. The bill would also allow the Trade Representative to negotiate agreements in which trading partners commit to buying U.S. goods, changing trade practices, or limiting exports to the United States.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Rick Scott Republican sponsor
• 2 cosponsors