Trade Act of 1974

Question 1

Which section of which U.S. law allows the president to tariff other countries for unfair trade practices?

Answer 1

Section 301 of the Trade Act of ‘74 allows the president to tariff countries if they violate trade agreements or engage in harmful trade practices

Question 2

Why weren’t Trump’s tariffs illegal, since Congress never approved them?

Answer 2

Congress gave the president that authority in the Trade Act of 1974

Question 3

Why did Congress create section 301 of the Trade Act of ‘74?

Answer 3

To let the president quickly fight back when other countries cheat in trade, without having to wait for Congress

Question 4

What is Section 301 also sometimes called?

Answer 4

“The hammer” of U.S. trade policy—because it gives the executive branch the ability to punish bad actors directly through tariffs or restrictions

Question 5

What’s the difference between using Section 301 versus waiting for Congress to act on unfair trade?

Answer 5

Section 301 lets the executive move fast and decisively—Congress would be too slow, making the threat meaningless

Question 6

“TRUMP’S TARIFFS WERE ILLEGAL!”

Answer 6

Wrong. Congress granted that power in 1974 under Section 301. If you have a problem with it, your issue is with Congress—not Trump.

Question 7

Who gave Trump the right to tariff all these countries like that, just because he felt it was right?

Answer 7

Congress did, in section 301 of the Trade Act of ‘74