H.R. 5620 — Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act

This section states congressional findings on the importance of a rules-based international trading system for U.S. agricultural exports; the harm caused by foreign trade barriers, including India's price support programs that exceed its 10% WTO limit (e.g., 87.9% for rice and 67.5% for wheat in marketing year 2022-2023); and the need for dispute settlement mechanisms to enforce trade agreements and promote fair trade.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that (1) the United States should accelerate efforts to address foreign trade barriers harming U.S. agricultural exports; (2) the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and Department of Agriculture have critical roles in developing agricultural trade disputes; (3) Congress and the private sector have key roles in developing disputes and agricultural trade enforcement strategy; (4) with respect to India's minimum price supports, the United States has exhausted World Trade Organization options short of requesting consultations under the Dispute Settlement Understanding; (5) there should be a plan and deadlines for requesting consultations and establishing a panel under the Dispute Settlement Understanding; (6) USTR and the Department of Agriculture should jointly develop a proactive enforcement strategy for systemic and economically significant agricultural trade barriers, in consultation with Congress and the private sector; and (7) USTR is the lead agency for U.S. trade policy.

This section establishes an Agricultural Trade Enforcement Task Force, to be created by the President not later than 30 days after enactment. The Task Force must (1) identify trade barriers to U.S. agricultural exports vulnerable to WTO or other trade agreement dispute settlement; (2) develop and implement strategies to enforce related violations; (3) identify like-minded trading partners as potential co-complainants; and (4) report quarterly to Congress on progress. In performing these duties, the Task Force must consult with private sector stakeholders (including agricultural trade advisory committees), other federal agencies, and potential trading partners. Membership consists of employees from the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and other agencies as needed, all with expertise in agricultural trade policy and enforcement. Not later than 90 days after enactment—and quarterly thereafter—the Task Force must report to Congress on identified barriers (systemic or economically significant), justifications, dispute development progress, and WTO dispute status. The initial report must also include a plan to request WTO consultations on India’s minimum price supports, identifying potential co-complainants, specific U.S. claims, and a timeline to request consultations and (if needed) a panel within 60 days. The U.S. Trade Representative and Secretary of Agriculture must brief Congress on the Task Force.