House Appropriators Propose Cuts to USTR, ITC, ITA

In a bill that Republicans say is "rightsizing agencies and programs," the division of the Commerce Department that handles antidumping and countervailing duties administration would be cut by 5.7% -- $7 million -- from the current fiscal year. The bill also proposes cutting funding of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative by 8.1% -- $6 million -- from current spending. The International Trade Commission, which manages changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule code, provides independent analysis crucial to the AD/CVD process, and manages the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill product nominating process, would get a 5.7% cut, $7 million less than current spending.

Each agency or division had asked for more money than in the current year. If the House and Senate are able to reach agreement on appropriations in 2024, their compromise is unlikely to hew closely to this Republican proposal, since Democrats control the Senate. The White House has issued a veto threat for this bill.