Stop Raising Prices on Food Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2842
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Foreign Trade and International Finance
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2025-06-16T15:06:44Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Stop Raising Prices on Food Act" (H.R. 2842) aims to restrict the President's ability to impose new or additional tariffs (taxes on imports) on goods from major U.S. agricultural trading partners. It seeks to protect the U.S. agricultural economy and prevent potential increases in food prices by requiring congressional approval for such actions.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Covered country: One of the top 5 countries (or the European Union treated as one) that imported the highest volume of U.S. agricultural goods in the previous fiscal year, as determined by the President.
- Covered duty: Any new or increased tariff imposed under specific laws, including:
- Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (for national security threats).
- Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (for unfair trade practices).
- The Trading with the Enemy Act (for wartime economic controls).
- The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (for economic emergencies).
- Presidential Limitations:
- The President may only impose or increase a covered duty on imports from a covered country if:
- They submit a formal request to Congress explaining the goal of the tariff, why alternatives like diplomacy or trade negotiations won't work, and the expected impact on the U.S. agricultural sector.
- Congress passes and enacts a "joint resolution of approval" specifically authorizing the action.
- Joint Resolution Process:
- The resolution must simply state Congress's approval of the President's specific request, including the submission date.
- It can be introduced by any member of Congress within 15 legislative days of the President's request.
- Fast-track procedures apply (from the Trade Act of 1974), including limited debate time, no amendments, and automatic discharge from committee if not acted on promptly.
- These rules are established as congressional procedures, which can be changed by either chamber but override conflicting house rules for this purpose.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill overrides the President's broad unilateral authority under the listed trade and emergency laws to impose tariffs on imports from major agricultural partners without needing congressional input.
- It introduces a mandatory congressional approval mechanism for these specific tariffs, shifting decision-making from executive discretion to legislative oversight, while leaving other tariff authorities intact for non-covered countries or non-agricultural goods.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The executive branch (e.g., Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Department of Agriculture) would face delays and additional reporting requirements before implementing tariffs, potentially slowing responses to trade disputes.
- On Citizens: U.S. consumers could benefit from more stable food prices, as tariffs on imports from key partners might otherwise raise costs for groceries and agricultural products. U.S. farmers and exporters could see protected access to vital markets, reducing retaliation risks.
- On International Relations: It may reduce the risk of trade wars with major partners like Canada, Mexico, China, or the EU, promoting stability in agricultural trade but potentially limiting U.S. leverage in negotiations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Agricultural Exporters and Farmers: Groups like soybean or corn producers who rely on exports to top markets, as they could face retaliation if tariffs provoke counter-tariffs.
- Consumers and Food Industry: Retailers, processors, and households affected by import prices for items like fruits, dairy, or grains.
- Covered Countries: Major trading partners (e.g., China, Mexico, Canada, Japan, EU) whose exports to the U.S. (e.g., produce, meat) would be shielded from sudden U.S. tariffs.
- Congress: Gains more control over trade policy, particularly members from agricultural states.
- President and Executive Branch: Loses some flexibility in using tariffs as a foreign policy tool.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's constitutional power over foreign commerce (Article I, Section 8) by curbing executive overreach in trade matters, without challenging the President's emergency powers broadly. The fast-track procedures are framed as internal congressional rules, respecting each chamber's right to self-govern.
- Political: Could appeal to bipartisan agricultural interests but might face opposition from those favoring strong executive trade tools (e.g., for national security). If enacted, it sets a precedent for congressional checks on tariff authority, potentially influencing future trade legislation amid debates over globalization and protectionism.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-10: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop Raising Prices on Food Act — issued 2025-04-10 — PDF (5 pages)