Trump Tariff Transparency Act

Bill Number: H.R. 6888
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Commerce
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-12-18: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
Last Updated: 2026-01-05T15:59:40Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Trump Tariff Transparency Act aims to increase transparency regarding the economic costs of certain tariffs by requiring regular public reports on their impact on consumers and small businesses. It focuses on tariffs imposed after January 20, 2025, to help inform the public and policymakers about these effects.

Key Provisions

Reporting Requirement: The Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), must publish a quarterly report starting no later than 90 days after the bill's enactment.
Report Content: Each report covers the average aggregate (overall combined) cost of tariffs imposed after January 20, 2025, specifically to consumers and "small business concerns" (independently owned businesses with limited employees and revenue, as defined under federal small business law).
Annual Summary: The final quarterly report for each calendar year must include the total annual cost of these tariffs to the same groups.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new mandatory reporting obligation for the SBA, which does not previously exist in current law. It adds a layer of oversight and public disclosure specifically tied to post-January 20, 2025, tariffs, without altering broader trade or tariff authorities.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: The SBA and BEA will face additional administrative workload to compile and release data quarterly, potentially requiring new analytical processes or inter-agency coordination.
Citizens and Small Businesses: Consumers and small business owners may gain better access to information on tariff-related price increases or economic burdens, aiding decision-making on purchases, operations, or advocacy.
International Relations: Indirectly, the reports could highlight costs of U.S. tariffs on imported goods, potentially influencing trade negotiations or public discourse on foreign policy, though the bill itself does not directly affect trade agreements.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Small Businesses: Directly impacted by tariff costs on imports or supply chains; they benefit from cost transparency to adjust strategies.
Consumers: Face potential higher prices from tariffs; reports provide data to understand and respond to these effects.
SBA and BEA: Responsible for producing and consulting on reports, increasing their operational responsibilities.
Policymakers and Congress: Gain tools for oversight of executive branch tariff decisions, particularly those post-2025.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: The bill enforces straightforward reporting under existing SBA authorities, with no new enforcement mechanisms; non-compliance could lead to standard congressional oversight remedies like hearings.
Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to regulate commerce and oversee executive actions (e.g., via the Appropriations Clause or trade oversight), without challenging presidential tariff powers under Article II.
Political: The bill's title and focus on post-January 20, 2025, tariffs (aligning with a potential presidential transition) suggest a partisan intent to scrutinize specific trade policies, potentially fueling debates on economic transparency versus trade protectionism.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]

Recent Actions

2025-12-18: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
2025-12-18: Introduced in House
2025-12-18: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Trump Tariff Transparency Act — issued 2025-12-18 — PDF (2 pages)