Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill, introduced by Congress, aims to give American businesses money that was collected from foreign companies caught cheating on trade rules. When foreign competitors sell products at unfairly low prices, the U.S. government charges them extra fees. This bill ensures the interest earned on those fees goes to the U.S. companies that were hurt.
• The plan covers a long period of time, reaching back to interest collected as far back as October 1, 2000. By expanding which funds can be shared, the bill helps make sure American farmers and manufacturers get the financial support they are owed for facing unfair competition from overseas.
• To get the money, a business must show they were eligible for trade relief in the past and file a formal request with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The government will then check the records and distribute the money fairly among the companies that qualify.
• The payments would happen in two main waves. The first wave would cover interest from 2010 to the present and would be sent out within seven months of the bill becoming law. The second wave would cover older interest from 2000 to 2010 and would follow about seven months after that.
• The money for these payments will come from a specific Treasury Department account used for corrected funds. This means the program uses money already collected from trade penalties rather than requiring new taxes from everyday citizens.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.