HR 1717

112th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. R. 1717

To require that, in cases in which the annual trade deficit between the United States and another country is $10,000,000,000 or more for 3 consecutive years, the President take the necessary steps to create a more balanced trading relationship with that country.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 4, 2011

Ms. KAPTUR introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

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A BILL

To require that, in cases in which the annual trade deficit between the United States and another country is $10,000,000,000 or more for 3 consecutive years, the President take the necessary steps to create a more balanced trading relationship with that country.

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 `Balancing Trade Act of 2011'.

SEC. 2. ACTION BY THE PRESIDENT IN CASES OF LARGE CONSECUTIVE ANNUAL TRADE DEFICITS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES.

(a) Action by the President- If in 3 consecutive calendar years the United States has a trade deficit with another country of $10,000,000,000 or more, the President shall take the necessary steps to create a trading relationship with the country that would eliminate or substantially reduce that trade deficit, by entering into an agreement with that country or otherwise.

(b) Definition- In this section, the term `trade deficit' means, with respect to the United States and another country, that the value of goods and services that are products of that country and are imported into the United States from that country exceeds the value of goods and services that are products of the United States and are exported from the United States to that country.

(c) Reports-

(1) INITIAL REPORT- Not later than 3 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the Congress a report setting forth--

(A) the likely reasons for the trade deficits with each country to which subsection (a) applies, as of the date of the report; and

(B) the steps the President intends to take under subsection (a) with respect to each such country.

(2) ANNUAL REPORTS- The President shall submit to the Congress, not later than December 31 of each year, a report on actions taken to carry out this section.

END