Reclaiming Congress’s Constitutional Mandate in Trade Resolution

This concurrent resolution, currently under committee consideration, proposes a significant restructuring of how the United States handles trade policy. Rather than having trade negotiations managed by the executive branch through the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the resolution would establish a process to move these functions to the legislative branch under congressional control. The resolution would create two new bodies: a Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Trade Responsibilities consisting of 14 members of Congress, and a 21-member Congressional Advisory Board on Trade Responsibilities to provide expert guidance.

If enacted, the Joint Committee would have 16 months to develop a detailed plan for transferring the USTR's functions to Congress, with the actual transition occurring four years after the plan is submitted. The USTR would be required to provide information and assistance to support this transition process. However, it is important to note that this is a non-binding concurrent resolution, meaning it does not have the force of law and would not automatically implement these changes. Instead, it would establish a framework and timeline for Congress to consider restructuring trade policy authority, reflecting a constitutional argument that trade responsibilities belong with the legislative branch rather than the executive branch.