Self-Initiation Trade Enforcement Act of 2021
Bill: S.1510 | Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. (D-MI)
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance

Summary:
Self-Initiation Trade Enforcement Act of 2021
This bill establishes within the Department of Commerce a task force to identify and recommend actions related to potential countervailable subsidies, dumping, and circumvention.
Dumping and countervailable subsidies are unfair trade practices that cause (or threaten to cause) material injury to U.S. industries by importing products (1) that are similar to those sold in the U.S market at less than fair value (dumping), or (2) with the assistance of subsidies from a foreign government or public entity (countervailable duties).
Specifically, the task force shall identify (1) potential countervailable subsidies and dumping that may be causing (or threatening to cause) material injury to an industry in the United States, and (2) potential circumvention of existing antidumping or countervailing duty orders. The task force must make recommendations with respect to initiating antidumping or countervailing duty investigations and circumvention inquiries.

To establish a task force to identify potential countervailable 
      subsidies, dumping, and circumvention with respect to trade.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Self-Initiation Trade Enforcement 
Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. TASK FORCE TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL COUNTERVAILABLE SUBSIDIES, 
              DUMPING, AND CIRCUMVENTION.

    (a) In General.--There is established, in the administering 
authority, a task force to be responsible for--
            (1) conducting research to--
                    (A) identify potential countervailable subsidies 
                and dumping that may be causing material injury or 
                threatening to cause material injury to an industry in 
                the United States; and
                    (B) identify potential circumvention of existing 
                antidumping or countervailing duty orders; and
            (2) making recommendations, where appropriate, to the Under 
        Secretary of Commerce for International Trade with respect to 
        initiating investigations under sections 702(a) and 732(a) of 
        the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671a(a) and 1673a(a)) and 
        circumvention inquires under section 781 of that Act (19 U.S.C. 
        1677j).
    (b) Duties.--In carrying out the responsibilities of the task force 
under subsection (a), the task force shall--
            (1) monitor trade flows, government and industry data, 
        price fluctuations, domestic industry and market conditions, 
        and other relevant available information to identify potential 
        countervailable subsidies, dumping, or circumvention of 
        existing antidumping or countervailing duty orders;
            (2) conduct background research on--
                    (A) production capabilities and pricing practices 
                of foreign companies;
                    (B) foreign government subsidies; and
                    (C) other relevant information available to the 
                task force;
            (3) consult with, or solicit information from, the United 
        States International Trade Commission, U.S. Customs and Border 
        Protection, and such other Federal agencies as the task force 
        considers appropriate; and
            (4) prioritize cases that affect small and medium-sized 
        businesses in the United States.
    (c) Consultations.--In carrying out the responsibilities of the 
task force under subsection (a), the task force shall consult with 
industries in the United States with respect to potential 
countervailable subsidies, dumping, and circumvention.
    (d) Nondisclosure of Certain Information.--The administering 
authority shall not disclose information with regard to the activities 
of the task force under this section unless and until a determination 
is made to initiate an investigation under section 702(a) or 732(a) of 
the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671a(a) and 1673a(a)) or a 
circumvention inquiry under section 781 of that Act (19 U.S.C. 1677j), 
as the case may be.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``administering 
authority'', ``countervailable subsidy'', ``dumping'', ``industry'', 
and ``material injury'' have the meanings given those terms in section 
771 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1677).
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