Prevent Tariff Abuse Act

The Prevent Tariff Abuse Act would restrict the President's ability to impose tariffs, tariff-rate quotas, and other import restrictions by eliminating one specific legal authority the President currently possesses. Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), Presidents have broad authority to regulate economic transactions after declaring a national emergency. This bill would carve out an exception, prohibiting Presidents from using IEEPA specifically to impose duties or quotas on imports.

If enacted, this bill would limit executive power over trade policy during emergencies. Currently, a President could declare a national emergency and use that authority to impose tariffs or restrict imports. This bill would remove that tool, meaning tariffs and import restrictions would need to be imposed through other legal authorities or would require congressional approval. For everyday citizens, this could affect prices of imported goods and the President's ability to respond quickly to trade disputes or economic crises through tariff actions.