Terminating the national emergency declared to impose duties on articles imported from India.

Bill Number

H.J.Res. 134

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-12: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Last Updated

2025-12-15T18:28:51Z

AI-Generated Summary

H.J. Res. 134: Terminating the National Emergency Declared to Impose Duties on Articles Imported from India

Purpose

This joint resolution aims to end a national emergency declared by the President that allowed the imposition of tariffs (customs duties) on goods imported from India. The goal is to terminate this emergency status, potentially removing the associated trade restrictions.

Key Provisions

• Invokes section 202 of the National Emergencies Act (a federal law, codified at 50 U.S.C. 1622, that gives Congress the power to end emergencies declared by the President).
• Specifically terminates the national emergency declared on August 6, 2025, through Executive Order 14329 (published in the Federal Register at 90 Fed. Reg. 38701).
• The resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives on December 12, 2025, by Representatives Ross, Veasey, and Krishnamoorthi, and referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This resolution would directly override the ongoing national emergency under Executive Order 14329, which had enabled the President to impose duties on Indian imports without standard congressional approval.
• It does not amend the National Emergencies Act itself but exercises Congress's built-in authority within that law to terminate a specific emergency, effectively halting the executive action that created the duties.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: The executive branch (e.g., U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative) would need to cease enforcing the duties, potentially simplifying trade administration and reducing enforcement costs.
• On citizens: U.S. consumers and businesses importing from India could benefit from lower costs on affected goods if the duties are lifted, while exporters to India might face no direct change unless reciprocal actions occur.
• On international relations: Could ease trade tensions with India, signaling a more cooperative U.S. stance and potentially strengthening bilateral economic ties, though it might strain relations if viewed as undermining executive trade authority.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Congress: Holds the authority to pass this resolution, representing legislative oversight of executive actions.
• Executive Branch (President and agencies): The emergency's termination would limit presidential flexibility in trade policy.
• U.S. businesses and consumers: Importers of Indian goods (e.g., in sectors like textiles, pharmaceuticals, or technology) stand to gain from reduced tariffs; domestic industries protected by the duties might lose advantages.
• Indian government and exporters: Likely to welcome the change, as it removes a barrier to U.S. market access and could boost Indian exports.
• Trade advocacy groups: Organizations focused on free trade or fair tariffs would be directly influenced.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces Congress's constitutional role in regulating commerce (under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution) by checking executive emergency powers; if passed, it would set a precedent for congressional intervention in trade-related emergencies.
• Constitutional: Highlights the balance of powers between branches, as the National Emergencies Act was designed post-Watergate to prevent indefinite executive emergencies.
• Political: Introduced by Democratic representatives, it could spark partisan debate on trade policy and executive overreach; referral to the Foreign Affairs Committee suggests scrutiny of its foreign policy effects, potentially influencing U.S.-India relations amid broader geopolitical tensions.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-12: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2025-12-12: Introduced in House
• 2025-12-12: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Terminating the national emergency declared to impose duties on articles imported from India. — issued 2025-12-12 — PDF (1 pages)