Withdrawing approval of the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization.

Bill Number

H.J.Res. 93

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Foreign Trade and International Finance

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-06-12: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 125.

Last Updated

2025-06-16T15:40:04Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation, H.J. Res. 93, aims to formally withdraw the United States' approval of the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO). This would signal an intent to end U.S. participation in the WTO, a global body that sets rules for international trade among its member countries.

Key Provisions

• The resolution states that Congress withdraws its prior approval of the WTO Agreement.
• It specifically references the approval granted under section 101(a) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (a 1994 law that implemented U.S. entry into the WTO) and defines the WTO Agreement as outlined in section 2(9) of that Act.
• As a joint resolution, it requires passage by both the House and Senate, and potentially presidential approval, to take effect.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This would reverse the U.S. commitment to the WTO made through the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, effectively nullifying congressional approval of the multilateral trade framework.
• No other amendments or new rules are introduced; the focus is solely on withdrawal, which could lead to separate laws or executive actions to handle post-withdrawal trade relations.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and other trade-related bodies (like the Department of Commerce) might need to renegotiate bilateral trade deals or adjust enforcement of trade rules outside the WTO framework, increasing administrative workload.
• On citizens: U.S. consumers and businesses could face changes in import/export costs, tariffs, and market access, potentially leading to higher prices or disrupted supply chains for goods like electronics, agriculture, and manufacturing.
• On international relations: Withdrawal could strain ties with over 160 WTO member countries, prompting retaliatory trade measures or shifts toward regional agreements (e.g., USMCA), and weaken the global trade system's stability.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Congress and executive branch: Directly involved in approving and implementing the withdrawal.
• U.S. businesses and exporters/importers: Reliant on WTO dispute resolution and tariff predictability for international operations.
• Foreign governments and WTO members: Impacted by the loss of U.S. participation in global trade governance, potentially affecting their exports to the U.S. market.
• American workers and consumers: Could experience job shifts in trade-dependent industries or changes in product availability and pricing.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Withdrawal via congressional resolution aligns with U.S. law on international agreements but may require additional steps (e.g., notifying the WTO under its withdrawal clause, which allows exit after six months' notice). It does not automatically dissolve all related U.S. trade obligations.
• Constitutional: Exercises Congress's Article I powers over foreign commerce and treaties, potentially overriding executive trade agreements without needing a full treaty repeal process.
• Political: Represents a significant isolationist shift in U.S. trade policy, possibly sparking debates on sovereignty versus global cooperation; if passed, it could influence midterm or presidential elections by highlighting divisions on economic nationalism.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7]

Cosponsors (5)

Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4], Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10]

Recent Actions

• 2025-06-12: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 125.
• 2025-06-12: Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
• 2025-06-12: Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
• 2025-04-10: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
• 2025-04-10: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-10: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Withdrawing approval of the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization. — issued 2025-04-10 — PDF (1 pages)