Trade Security Act of 2019

To amend section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to require the Secretary of Defense to initiate investigations and to provide for congressional disapproval of certain actions, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Trade Security Act of 2019 2. Investigations to determine effects on national security of imports of articles and congressional review of presidential actions (a) Investigations and determinations by Secretary of Defense Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 ( 19 U.S.C. 1862 (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking Secretary of Commerce Secretary Secretary of Defense (ii) in subparagraph (B)— (I) by striking Secretary shall Secretary of Defense shall (II) by striking Secretary of Defense of Secretary of Commerce of (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) by striking subparagraph (B); (ii) in the matter preceding clause (i)— (I) by striking (A) In In (II) by striking Secretary Secretary of Defense (iii) by striking clauses (i) through (iii) and inserting the following: (A) consult with the Secretary of Commerce regarding the methodological and policy questions raised in any investigation initiated under paragraph (1); (B) prepare an assessment of the defense requirements and national security impact of any article that is the subject of an investigation, which shall focus on— (i) the impact of the importation of the article on military readiness and critical infrastructure; and (ii) the need for a reliable supply of the article to protect national security; (C) seek information and advice from the Secretary of Commerce; (D) consult with appropriate officers of the United States; (E) consult with members of the Committee on Finance of the Senate and members of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives; and (F) hold public hearings, co-chaired with the Department of Commerce, or otherwise afford interested parties an opportunity to present information and advice relevant to such investigation. ; (C) in paragraph (3)— (i) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D); (ii) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following: (A) Not later than 200 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense initiates an investigation under paragraph (1) with respect to an article, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the President a report on the findings of such investigation with respect to the effect of the importation of such article in such quantities or under such circumstances on the national security of the United States. (B) If the report described in subparagraph (A) includes an affirmative finding that the importation of an article in such quantities or under such circumstances threatens to impair the national security, the President may direct the Secretary of Commerce to devise recommendations to address such threat. (C) Not later than 100 days after receiving from the President under subparagraph (B) a direction to devise recommendations with respect to an article, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, the Secretary of Defense, members of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and members of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, shall submit to the President a report that includes— (i) recommendations for action or inaction under this section with respect to the article; and (ii) the findings of the Secretary of Commerce with respect to the investigation by the Secretary of Defense under paragraph (1). ; and (iii) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated by subparagraph (C)— (I) by striking Secretary Secretary of Defense (II) by inserting or the report submitted by the Secretary of Commerce under subparagraph (C) subparagraph (A) (D) in paragraph (4), by inserting of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, The Secretary (2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following: (A) Not later than 60 days after receiving recommendations submitted under subsection (b)(3)(C)(i) with respect to an article, the President shall— (i) decide whether to take action based on such recommendations; and (ii) if the President decides to take action under clause (i), determine the nature and duration of the action to be taken to adjust the imports of the article and its derivatives so that such imports will not threaten to impair the national security. ; (3) by redesignating the second subsection (d) as subsection (e); (4) in subsection (d)— (A) by striking the Secretary and the President the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Commerce, and the President (B) by inserting , the production of which is needed for national defense requirements and critical infrastructure in the United States welfare of individual domestic industries (5) in subsection (e)(1), as redesignated by paragraph (3), by striking Secretary Secretary of Defense (b) Congressional disapproval of presidential action Section 232(f) of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 ( 19 U.S.C. 1862(f) (1) in paragraph (1), by striking of petroleum or petroleum products (2) in paragraph (2)(B)— (A) by striking petroleum imports imports (B) by striking of petroleum or petroleum products (c) Applicability (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), subsection (f) of section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 ( 19 U.S.C. 1862 (2) Exception Subsection (f) of section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 ( 19 U.S.C. 1862

Summary: Trade Security Act of 2019 This bill revises provisions related to the adjustment of U.S. imports due to a national security threat. The bill allows Congress to block a presidential import adjustment through a joint resolution. This provision retroactively applies to adjustments made on or after July 1, 2018. However, it shall not apply to specified steel and aluminum import adjustments. The Department of Defense (currently, the Department of Commerce) must investigate the national security threat of a U.S. import, and report to the President the results of that investigation. Commerce must provide recommendations regarding such imports upon request by the President.