This bill restricts the President's authority to impose new or increased tariffs on agricultural imports from the United States' top five trading partners without prior approval from Congress.
Adam Gray
Representative
CA-13
The Stop Raising Prices on Food Act restricts the President's authority to impose new or increased tariffs on agricultural goods imported from the United States' top five agricultural trading partners. Under this bill, the President must receive explicit Congressional approval before implementing such duties. To gain approval, the President must submit a request detailing the goal, justification over other methods, and the impact on the U.S. agricultural economy.
New Bill Forces Congress to Approve Tariffs on Top 5 Farm Trading Partners to Stabilize Food Prices
The aptly named Stop Raising Prices on Food Act aims to put a major brake on how the White House uses tariffs, specifically on agricultural goods. The core idea is simple: if the President wants to slap a new or increased duty (tariff) on farm products coming from our biggest agricultural trading partners, they can’t just do it unilaterally anymore. They have to get Congress to sign off first.
This matters because tariffs—taxes on imports—can disrupt supply chains and raise the cost of food, both domestically and internationally. This bill targets the top five countries that buy the most U.S. farm goods, calling them “covered countries.” If the President wants to use specific laws (like Section 232 or the International Emergency Economic Powers Act) to impose a tariff on these partners, this bill says, “Hold up, you need permission.”
The New Tariff Speed Bump
For busy people, the key takeaway is that this bill adds a layer of stability to the food market by slowing down the use of trade war tactics. Before the President can impose a “covered duty” on a covered country, they must send a formal request to Congress. This request isn’t just a quick note; it needs three specific things (SEC. 2):
- A Clear Goal: What is the tariff supposed to achieve?
- The 'Why Not Diplomacy' Clause: An explanation of why the goal can’t be met through standard negotiations or trade dispute processes.
- The Impact Report: An assessment of how the proposed tariff will affect the U.S. agricultural economy.
Once that request hits Capitol Hill, Congress has a fast-tracked process to vote on a “joint resolution of approval.” This means no more surprise tariffs that could instantly spike prices at the grocery store or leave farmers scrambling to find new buyers overseas. It essentially shifts the power to launch specific agricultural trade restrictions from the Oval Office to the legislative branch.
Who Benefits and Who Gets Less Flexibility?
This bill is good news for the stability of the U.S. agricultural economy and potentially consumers. When the President imposes tariffs, trading partners often retaliate with tariffs on U.S. exports—like soybeans or pork. By making it harder to start these skirmishes, the bill offers predictability to farmers and food producers, which ideally helps keep prices stable for everyone else.
It also benefits our top five agricultural trading partners, who gain assurance that they won't be hit with sudden, unilateral trade taxes. For example, if a country like Mexico or China is on that top-five list, this bill means the President can’t immediately use certain trade laws to punish them over a specific issue without Congressional buy-in.
On the flip side, this significantly curtails the President’s authority (SEC. 2). In a trade dispute, the ability to impose tariffs quickly is often a key bargaining chip. This bill removes that immediate leverage, forcing the executive branch to slow down and build a public case for the tariffs, which could weaken their negotiating position in time-sensitive situations. For those who believe the President needs maximum flexibility to respond to unfair trade practices, this restriction could be seen as tying their hands.