,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bgcd ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #be1 #bjag,ms4 ,slaughter introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,ways and ,means ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,department of ,commerce to address the trade deficits between the ,united ,states and other countries1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,trade ,enforcement and ,trade ,deficit ,reduction ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the ,united ,states market is widely recognized as one of the most open markets in the world4 ,average ,united ,states tariff rates are very low and the ,united ,states has limited1 if any1 nontariff barriers4 7#b7 ,with each subsequent round of bilateral1 regional1 and multilateral trade negotiations1 tariffs have been significantly reduced or eliminated for many manufactured goods1 leaving nontariff barriers as the most pervasive1 significant1 and challenging barriers to ,united ,states exports and market opportunities4 7#c7 ,often the only leverage the ,united ,states has to obtain the reduction or elimination of nontariff barriers imposed by foreign countries is to negotiate the amount of tariffs the ,united ,states imposes on imports from those foreign countries4 7#d7 ,the ,united ,states has become the world's largest net debtor nation1 having run up massive trade deficits since the mid-#aigjs4 7#e7 ,every year since #aigf1 whether in expansion or recession1 the ,united ,states has run a deficit in goods and services trade1 which weakens and detracts from ,america's global leadership position4 7#f7 ,the ,united ,states trade deficit in #aiic1 the year before the ,north ,american ,free ,trade ,agreement 7,,nafta7 went into force1 was #ace4f billion4 7#g7 ,in #bjae1 the ,united ,states had a deficit in the balance of trade in goods and services of #ici4h billion4 7#h7 ,in #bjae1 the ,united ,states had a trade deficit of #agi billion with countries with which it has free trade agreements4 7#i7 ,persistent deficits weaken the ,united ,states economy1 defense industrial base1 and innovation system and increase the likelihood of ownership of large segments of the ,united ,states economy by foreign interests4 #c4 ,withdrawal of tariff concessions 7a7 ,in general ,if the ,department of ,commerce determines pursuant to subsection 7c7 that-- 7#a7 a tariff or nontariff barrier or policy or practice of the government of a foreign country with respect to ,united ,states exports of any product has not been reduced or eliminated in accordance with the terms of a trade agreement entered into between the ,united ,states and the foreign country2 or 7#b7 a tariff or nontariff barrier or policy or practice of such government with respect to ,united ,states exports of any product has been imposed or discovered1 the ,united ,states ,trade ,representative shall withdraw any modification of any duty that reduced or eliminated the bound or applied rate of duty on any product that has the same physical characteristics and uses as a product described in paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b7 until such time as the ,department of ,commerce submits to ,congress a certification that the foreign government has reduced or eliminated the tariff or nontariff barrier or policy or practice4 7b7 ,investigation 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,department of ,commerce shall initiate an investigation if an interested party files a petition with the ,department of ,commerce which alleges the elements necessary for the withdrawal of the modification of an existing duty under subsection 7a71 and which is accompanied by information reasonably available to the petitioner supporting such allegations4 7#b7 ,interested party defined ,for purposes of paragraph 7#a71 the term interested party means-- 7,a7 a manufacturer1 producer1 or wholesaler in the ,united ,states of a domestic product that has the same physical characteristics and uses as the product for which a modification of an existing duty is sought2 7,b7 a certified union or recognized union or group of workers engaged in the manufacture1 production1 or wholesale in the ,united ,states of a domestic product that has the same physical characteristics and uses as the product for which a modification of an existing duty is sought2 7,c7 a trade or business association a majority of whose members manufacture1 produce1 or wholesale in the ,united ,states a domestic product that has the same physical characteristics and uses as the product for which a modification of an existing duty is sought2 or 7,d7 a member of the ,committee on ,ways and ,means of the ,house of ,representatives or a member of the ,committee on ,finance of the ,senate4 7c7 ,determination by the ,department of ,commerce ,not later than #de days after the date on which a petition is filed under subsection 7b71 the ,department of ,commerce shall-- 7#a7 determine whether the petition alleges the elements necessary for the withdrawal of the modification of an existing duty under subsection 7a72 and 7#b7 notify the petitioner of the determination under paragraph 7#a7 and the reasons for the determination4 #d4 ,trade deficit reduction 7a7 ,identification 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and monthly thereafter1 the ,department of ,commerce shall identify each country from which the value of goods and services imported into the ,united ,states exceeds twice the value of goods and services that are products of the ,united ,states that are exported from the ,united ,states to that country4 7#b7 ,statistical sources ,for purposes of the calculations described in this section1 the ,department of ,commerce shall use the goods and services trade deficit data compiled by the ,united ,states ,international ,trade ,commission1 specifically-- 7,a7 ,u4,s4 ,imports for ,consumption data1 in the case of imports2 and 7,b7 ,u4,s4 ,domestic ,exports data1 in the case of exports4 7#c7 ,exclusion of least developed countries ,for purposes of this subsection1 the term country does not include a country that is identified on the most recent ,list of ,least ,developed ,countries published by the ,united ,nations ,committee for ,development ,policy4 7b7 ,action by ,u4,s4 ,customs and ,border ,protection ,in the case of a country which is identified under subsection 7a7 for six consecutive months1 ,u4,s4 ,customs and ,border ,protection shall bar the importation of products from a country identified under subsection 7a71 other than those granted a waiver under subsection 7c71 beginning #ahj days after the date on which a determination is made under subsection 7a7 until such time that-- 7#a7 such country is no longer identified under subsection 7a72 or 7#b7 the ,president has provided written notice to ,congress of the ,president's intention to enter into negotiations with such country to enter into a trade agreement1 or changes to an existing trade agreement1 with such country pursuant to section #aje7;a77#a77;,a7 of the ,bipartisan ,congressional ,trade ,priorities and ,accountability ,act of #bjae 7#ai ,u4,s4,c4 #dbjd7;a77#a77;,a774 7c7 ,waiver ,a manufacturer1 producer1 or wholesaler in the ,united ,states may apply to the ,department of ,commerce to allow the importation of a product from a country identified under subsection 7a71 which the ,department of ,commerce shall grant-- 7#a7 if it is shown that such product is not available in sufficient quantities from other sources2 and 7#b7 for a period not to exceed one year4