Tariff Free Farming Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7716
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Foreign Trade and International Finance
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-24T01:17:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Tariff Free Farming Act" (H.R. 7716) aims to protect U.S. farmers and agricultural producers by preventing increases in tariffs (taxes on imports) on essential farming supplies imported from countries that have normal trade relations (NTR) with the United States. NTR, also known as most-favored-nation status, is a standard trade agreement that grants lower tariff rates to participating countries.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The bill is named the "Tariff Free Farming Act."
- Tariff Freeze on Agricultural Inputs:
- Prohibits any tariffs or duties on specified agricultural inputs from exceeding the rates in place as of January 19, 2025.
- This restriction applies regardless of other laws, regulations, or emergency powers that might allow higher country-specific tariffs.
- Definition of Agricultural Inputs: Covered items include:
- Seeds (e.g., corn, soybean, wheat).
- Fertilizers (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, potash).
- Crop protection chemicals (e.g., herbicides, insecticides, fungicides).
- Livestock feed.
- Fuel and energy products (e.g., diesel, propane, electricity).
- Farm machinery and equipment (e.g., tractors, combines, replacement parts, specialty harvesters).
- Building materials (e.g., steel, lumber, fencing).
- Veterinary supplies and medicines.
- Other supplies and components essential for farm production.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Overrides existing tariff authorities, including those under emergency situations (e.g., national security or trade dispute powers), to lock in pre-2025 tariff rates for these inputs from NTR countries.
- Shifts from flexible, executive-driven tariff adjustments to a fixed, congressionally mandated rate, limiting the ability to impose retaliatory or protective tariffs on these specific goods.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Restricts the U.S. Trade Representative and Customs and Border Protection from applying higher tariffs, potentially simplifying enforcement but reducing flexibility in trade negotiations or responses to global events.
- On Citizens: U.S. farmers and ranchers benefit from stable, lower costs for imports, which could reduce production expenses and help keep food prices affordable for consumers.
- On International Relations: Promotes predictable trade with NTR countries (e.g., major partners like Canada, Mexico, and the EU), potentially strengthening agricultural supply chains but limiting U.S. leverage in trade disputes involving these inputs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Farmers and Agricultural Producers: Primary beneficiaries, as they rely on affordable imported inputs for planting, maintenance, and operations.
- Agribusiness and Importers: Companies involved in importing seeds, fertilizers, machinery, and related goods gain cost certainty.
- Consumers: Indirectly affected through potential stabilization of food and commodity prices.
- Trading Partners: Countries with NTR status (over 190 nations) face reduced risk of U.S. tariff hikes on their agricultural exports to the U.S.
- Government Entities: Congress gains more control over trade policy in this sector, while executive agencies like the Department of Agriculture may see shifts in advisory roles.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes a statutory cap on tariffs for specific goods, which could face challenges if conflicting with broader trade laws (e.g., Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act for national security tariffs). Courts might review enforcement under the Administrative Procedure Act.
- Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's enumerated power over tariffs (Article I, Section 8) by curbing executive discretion, potentially setting a precedent for limiting presidential trade actions without congressional approval.
- Political: Supports bipartisan agricultural interests (introduced by a diverse group of representatives), but may spark debate over balancing farm protections against broader trade strategy, especially amid ongoing global supply chain issues.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (8)
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Tariff Free Farming Act — issued 2026-02-25 — PDF (3 pages)