End Trump’s Tariff Tax Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
- Committees
- Finance Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Sep 14, 2026
Bottom line
This bill seeks to immediately end specific tariffs and permanently remove key presidential authorities to impose certain duties, while also refunding duties already collected under these authorities.
What it actually does
This bill terminates specific duties imposed under certain trade authorities, repeals the underlying statutory authorities for the President to impose duties for balance-of-payments and foreign discrimination reasons, and mandates automatic refunds with interest for duties collected under these authorities during specified periods. It aims to roll back recent or anticipated tariff actions and limit future executive power in trade policy.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that these duties, particularly those related to forced labor investigations, balance-of-payments, and foreign discrimination, harm American consumers and businesses by increasing import costs, stifling trade, and potentially leading to retaliatory tariffs. They contend that repealing these authorities prevents future administrations from unilaterally imposing tariffs that disrupt global supply chains and economic stability, and that refunding collected duties provides relief to affected importers, especially small businesses.
Opponents contend
Opponents would likely argue that repealing these authorities weakens the President's ability to respond to unfair trade practices, protect domestic industries, or address human rights concerns (in the case of forced labor). They might contend that the duties are necessary tools to ensure fair trade, address national economic imbalances, or pressure foreign countries on critical issues, and that their termination would undermine these objectives and potentially reward bad actors.
The bill is short and relatively straightforward, allowing for a quick read and understanding of its core provisions.
Section 2
Termination of Forced Labor-Related Duties
This section immediately stops any duties that were put in place as a result of investigations into countries allegedly failing to ban goods made with forced labor. It specifically targets duties imposed following a Federal Register notice from July 28, 2026, ensuring they have no legal effect from the bill's enactment date onward. This aims to remove economic pressure related to these specific trade actions.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that these duties may be economically harmful to U.S. businesses and consumers, or that the specific investigations leading to them were flawed or politically motivated. Terminating them would reduce costs and remove trade barriers.
Critics contend
Opponents would contend that these duties are a crucial tool to combat forced labor globally and to hold countries accountable for human rights abuses. Terminating them could be seen as undermining efforts to promote ethical supply chains and could embolden countries that rely on forced labor.
Tradeoffs
The tension lies between the economic impact on importers and consumers versus the moral and geopolitical imperative to combat forced labor through trade policy.
Section 3
Repeal of Presidential Balance-of-Payments Tariff Authority
This section eliminates the President's authority under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose tariffs or other import restrictions for balance-of-payments reasons. It also retroactively terminates any duties imposed under this authority before the bill's enactment, effective from August 1, 2026. This aims to prevent future administrations from using this specific power.
Section 4
Repeal of Presidential Anti-Discrimination Tariff Authority
This section revokes the President's power under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which allowed for the imposition of duties on goods from countries that discriminate against U.S. commerce. Similar to Section 3, it also retroactively ends any duties imposed under this authority before the bill's enactment, effective from August 1, 2026. This aims to remove another specific executive trade power.
Section 5
Automatic Refund of Recently Collected Duties
This section mandates that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) automatically refund, with interest, all duties collected under the authorities terminated by this bill. These refunds cover specific periods: from July 23, 2026, for forced labor duties, and from August 1, 2026, for balance-of-payments and discrimination duties, up to the bill's enactment date. CBP is directed to prioritize refunds for small businesses and not require importers to submit requests or documentation.