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HR 1679 99th Congress House

Trade Reorganization Act of 1985

Official title: A bill to establish as an executive department of the Government of the United States a Department of Trade, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 4, 1985 See on congress.gov
Foreign Trade and International Finance Advisory bodiesCustoms administrationDepartment of CommerceExecutive reorganization
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Export-Import Bank of the United StatesExportsFederal advisory bodiesForeign Trade and InvestmentsForeign trade policyGovernment Operations and PoliticsImportsInternational agenciesInternational bankingOffice of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeScience, Technology, CommunicationsTariffTourist tradeTrade agreementsTrade regulation
This bill died when the 99th Congress ended
It never became law before the 99th Congress (1985–1986) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 1, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Legislation and National Security.
Apr 1, 1985
Executive Comment Requested from OMB, Commerce, USDA, State, Treasury, USTR, Ex-Im Bank, Labor, GSA, OPM, DOD, DOE, GAO, ITA, Intl Dev Coop Agency.
Mar 21, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Government Operations.
Mar 21, 1985
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 1, 1985

Referred to Subcommittee on Legislation and National Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Trade Reorganization Act of 1985 - Establishes the Department of Trade, to be administered by a Secretary of Trade 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 the U.S. Trade Representative and of the Secretary of Commerce which relate to international trade and investment and to specified agencies and offices of the Department of Commerce. Transfers to the Department of Trade the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Amends the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to establish a Trade Policy Committee, chaired by the President, to assist the President in carrying out the functions relating to trade agreements and import relief (replaces an interagency trade organization). Designates the Secretary of Trade as the Vice Chairman and specifies other committee members. Establishes a Trade Negotiating Subcommittee to advise the Secretary on management of international trade and investment. Designates the Secretary of Trade as the President's chief spokesman on trade and requires the Secretary to report directly to the President on all trade policy matters.

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.

Designates the Secretary as the chief representative of the United States for trade negotiation. Requires the Secretary to: (1) report directly to the President and the Congress and to be responsible to both for the administration of trade agreements under this Act and other specified Acts; (2) advise the President and the Congress on matters related to trade agreement programs; and (3) be responsible for specified reports to the Congress and for such other functions as the President may direct.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1679: Trade Reorganization Act of 1985. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1679/
MLA
"H.R. 1679: Trade Reorganization Act of 1985." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1679/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1679, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1679/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1679: Trade Reorganization Act of 1985](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1679/)
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