CANADA Act

Bill Number

H.R. 9601

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-07-06: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Last Updated

2026-07-09T03:08:22Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose The legislation directs the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to investigate whether certain foreign countries, including Canada, have stopped importing and distributing U.S. alcoholic beverages in a manner that qualifies for action under existing trade law. The bill is titled the "Combating Attacks on our National Alcoholic Drinks by Allies Act" or "CANADA Act."

Key Provisions

• The USTR must begin an investigation within 30 days of enactment to assess if a covered foreign country has restricted U.S. alcoholic beverage imports in a way actionable under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
• Before deciding whether a country's actions are actionable, the USTR must consult U.S. alcoholic beverage manufacturers, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of State, and the U.S. International Trade Commission, while also gathering input from trade associations and producers.
• Before any enforcement action, the USTR must notify the relevant congressional committees and consult affected stakeholders to ensure any response is targeted, proportionate, and minimizes unintended effects on U.S. consumers and allies.
• If the USTR finds no actionable conduct, a written explanation must be submitted to Congress.
• The USTR must issue an initial report to Congress within 90 days, followed by quarterly reports for two years, covering investigation status, foreign policies on U.S. alcohol exports, impacts on U.S. manufacturers, consultations, and any remedial actions taken. A public summary of these reports is required, excluding confidential information.

Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill does not amend the Trade Act of 1974 or other statutes. It instead imposes new procedural requirements on the USTR when using Section 301 authority, including mandatory timelines, specific consultations, and reporting obligations focused on alcoholic beverage trade restrictions by countries with free trade agreements.

Potential Impacts

• Government agencies: Requires involvement from the USTR, Department of Commerce, Department of State, and U.S. International Trade Commission in investigations and consultations.
• Citizens and businesses: Primarily affects U.S. producers and distributors of alcoholic beverages by addressing potential foreign market barriers.
• International relations: Targets countries with existing free trade agreements, including Canada, which could lead to trade disputes or negotiations with U.S. allies.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. manufacturers, producers, and distributors of alcoholic beverages.
• Foreign countries that have free trade agreements with the United States, explicitly including Canada.
• Congressional committees on trade (House Ways and Means and Senate Finance).
• Federal agencies responsible for trade policy and consultations.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill relies on the executive branch's existing authority under Section 301 for addressing unfair foreign trade practices but adds layers of required consultations and reporting to Congress. It may raise questions about the balance between executive trade actions and congressional oversight, particularly when applied to allies under free trade agreements. No constitutional issues are addressed in the text.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]

Recent Actions

• 2026-07-06: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
• 2026-07-06: Introduced in House
• 2026-07-06: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Combating Attacks on our National Alcoholic Drinks by Allies Act — issued 2026-07-06 — PDF (6 pages)