American Worker and Trade Competitiveness Act
Latest action (22 Jun 2023): Introduced
What this bill does
H.R. 4276, the American Worker and Trade Competitiveness Act, is a broad trade bill that combines several distinct policy areas. Its main component reauthorizes and updates Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs, which provide job training, income support, healthcare tax credits, relocation and job-search allowances, and other benefits to workers, firms, farmers, and communities harmed by import competition. The bill also extends and reforms the Generalized System of Preferences, a program granting reduced or duty-free tariff treatment to imports from eligible developing countries, and directs the U.S. International Trade Commission to study its effects. Additionally, it reauthorizes the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016, which governs the process for temporarily suspending or reducing tariffs on certain imported goods, and it enacts hundreds of specific, temporary duty suspensions or reductions on named chemicals, agricultural inputs, dyes, pesticides, and other manufacturing materials not widely produced domestically.
The bill would primarily affect American workers displaced by trade, farmers facing import-related losses, U.S. manufacturers relying on imported inputs, and businesses trading with countries covered by the preference program. It aims to support retraining, income assistance, and manufacturing competitiveness while adjusting tariff policy on specific goods.
The bill was introduced on June 22, 2023, by Rep. Earl Blumenauer and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. It has not received a committee vote or further action, and, per its status, did not advance during the 118th Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
American Worker and Trade Competitiveness Act
This bill reauthorizes and revises specified U.S. trade programs and provisions.
Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2030 and revises the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program, including by expanding program eligibility to additional workers, establishing a child and other dependent care allowance, and increasing the maximum benefit of wage insurance. It also permanently extends the tax credit for health insurance costs and increases the percentage of the credit.
The bill extends through December 31, 2026, the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which provides duty-free treatment to products imported from designated beneficiary countries. The bill makes changes to the GSP, including by (1) adding other criteria for designation as a beneficiary developing country, (2) requiring a review of laws relating to worker and gender rights, and (3) requiring a study on rules of origin and GSP utilization rates.
Additionally, the bill provides through December 31, 2024, and retroactively applies to 120 days before this bill's enactment, temporary duty suspensions or reductions to eligible imported products. This authorization is commonly known as the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB). The last version of the MTB was enacted in September 2018 and the temporary treatment for those products listed in the MTB expired on December 31, 2020.
The bill extends the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016 for two future MTB cycles (one in 2023 and one in 2026). This extension allows the U.S. International Trade Commission to conduct the MTB petition, review, and recommendation process for those additional cycles.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 4276 do?
- H.R. 4276, the American Worker and Trade Competitiveness Act, is a broad trade bill that combines several distinct policy areas. Its main component reauthorizes and updates Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs, which provide job training, income support, healthcare tax credits, relocation and job-search allowances, and other benefits to workers, firms, farmers, and communities harmed by import competition. The bill also extends and reforms the Generalized System of Preferences, a program granting reduced or duty-free tariff treatment to imports from eligible developing countries, and directs the U.S. International Trade Commission to study its effects. Additionally, it reauthorizes the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016, which governs the process for temporarily suspending or reducing tariffs on certain imported goods, and it enacts hundreds of specific, temporary duty suspensions or reductions on named chemicals, agricultural inputs, dyes, pesticides, and other manufacturing materials not widely produced domestically. The bill would primarily affect American workers displaced by trade, farmers facing import-related losses, U.S. manufacturers relying on imported inputs, and businesses trading with countries covered by the preference program. It aims to support retraining, income assistance, and manufacturing competitiveness while adjusting tariff policy on specific goods. The bill was introduced on June 22, 2023, by Rep. Earl Blumenauer and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. It has not received a committee vote or further action, and, per its status, did not advance during the 118th Congress.
- Has H.R. 4276 become law?
- Not yet. As of 22 Jun 2023, H.R. 4276 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 4276?
- H.R. 4276 was sponsored by Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D-OR3, 1996-2024] (Democrat-OR), with 14 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 4276?
- Introduced (22 Jun 2023).
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