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HR 1271 100th Congress House

Trade Policy and Reorganization Act of 1985

Official title: A bill to establish a Department of Trade, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 30, 1987 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Advisory bodiesCorporations and StocksDepartment of CommerceExecutive Office of the President
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Executive reorganizationExport financeExport-Import Bank of the United StatesExportsFederal advisory bodiesForeign Trade and International FinanceForeign Trade and InvestmentsForeign trade policyGovernment corporationsImport reliefImportsInternational Trade CommissionOffice of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeOverseas Private Investment CorporationScience, Technology, Communications
This bill died when the 100th Congress ended
It never became law before the 100th Congress (1987–1988) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 5, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Legislation and National Security.
Feb 25, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Government Operations.
Feb 25, 1987
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 5, 1987

Referred to Subcommittee on Legislation and National Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Trade Policy and Reorganization Act of 1985 - Establishes the Department of Trade, to be administered by a Secretary of Trade (the Secretary) appointed by the President. Directs the Secretary, among other things, to: (1) coordinate U.S. policies for promoting beneficial international trade relationships; (2) negotiate U.S. international trade agreements; (3) protect American industry, agriculture, and labor from unfair or injurious foreign competition; (4) develop trade monitoring systems; (5) develop and implement U.S. policies concerning foreign investments; and (6) administer the U.S. Customs Service and maintain the U.S. tariff schedules.

Transfers to the Secretary all functions of: (1) the U.S. Trade Representative; (2) the Secretary of Commerce which relate to international trade and investment and to specified agencies and offices of the Department of Commerce; and (3) the President under chapter I of title II and chapter I of title III of the Trade Act of 1974. Transfers to the Department of Trade the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Amends the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to establish in the Executive Office of the President a Trade Policy Committee which shall assist the President in carrying out certain import relief functions pursuant to the Trade Act of 1974. (The Committee replaces the interagency trade organization established by such Act.) Establishes a Trade Negotiating Subcommittee which shall advise the Secretary on the management of international trade and investment negotiations.

Sets forth administrative provisions applicable to the Department of Trade.

Directs the Secretary to submit a report annually to the President for submission to the Congress on the Department's activities. Provides for the transfer of personnel, assets, records, and funding to correspond with the transfers of functions, offices, and agencies made by this Act.

Terminates: (1) the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; (2) the International Trade Administration; (3) the Bureau of Industrial Economics; (4) the Bureau of Economic Analysis; (5) the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration; and (6) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Makes technical and conforming amendments to specified Acts to reflect the executive reorganization made by this Act.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1271: Trade Policy and Reorganization Act of 1985. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1271/
MLA
"H.R. 1271: Trade Policy and Reorganization Act of 1985." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1271/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1271, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1271/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1271: Trade Policy and Reorganization Act of 1985](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1271/)
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