Lowering Input Costs for American Farmers Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4418
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-13T12:36:01Z
AI-Generated Summary
Lowering Input Costs for American Farmers Act (S. 4418)
Purpose
The legislation aims to reduce costs for U.S. farmers by eliminating certain import duties on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco, ensuring affordable access to this key agricultural input.
Key Provisions
- Duty Exemption (Sec. 2): Starting 7 days after enactment, no duties under Section 122 (temporary import relief) or Section 301 (response to unfair foreign trade practices) of the Trade Act of 1974 can be imposed on phosphate fertilizers classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule headings 3103 or 3105 when imported from Morocco. This overrides other laws, including the Tariff Act of 1930.
- Revocation of Countervailing Duties (Sec. 3):
- Effective 4 business days after enactment, countervailing duty orders (issued April 7, 2021, on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia) are revoked for imports from Morocco only.
- The Secretary of Commerce must ensure no duties or cash deposits are collected on these imports (except those finalized in prior administrative reviews).
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must refund relevant cash deposits to importers within 90 days of enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Overrides presidential authority under Trade Act sections 122 and 301 to impose duties on Moroccan phosphate imports.
- Revokes specific countervailing duty orders (which counter foreign government subsidies), removing them entirely for Morocco while leaving Russia's intact.
- Mandates refunds of prior cash deposits, shifting from duty collection to repayment.
Potential Impacts
- Citizens/Farmers: Lowers fertilizer costs, potentially reducing expenses for U.S. agriculture and benefiting food production and prices.
- Government Agencies: Requires immediate action by Commerce (implementation) and CBP (refunds), increasing administrative workload short-term.
- International Relations: Strengthens U.S.-Morocco trade ties by favoring Moroccan imports; distinguishes Morocco from Russia amid ongoing trade tensions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Farmers and Agricultural Producers: Primary beneficiaries through lower input costs.
- Importers of Phosphate Fertilizers: Gain duty-free access and refunds.
- U.S. Government Agencies: Commerce Department and CBP for enforcement and refunds.
- Kingdom of Morocco: Enhanced market access for its exports.
- Russian Exporters: Indirectly unaffected by revocation but remain under duties.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Congress directly limits executive branch trade enforcement (e.g., presidential duties under Trade Act), potentially setting precedent for legislative overrides of antidumping/countervailing measures.
- Constitutional: Raises questions on separation of powers, as trade authority is often delegated to the executive but can be checked by Congress.
- Political: Supports farm-state interests (sponsors from agricultural regions); may influence U.S. trade policy by exempting allies like Morocco while targeting others like Russia.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS], Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 2026-04-28: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Lowering Input Costs for American Farmers Act — issued 2026-04-28 — PDF (3 pages)