H.R. 7084 — Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026

This section expands the prohibition on foreign vessels linked to North Korean sanctions evasion (i.e., those on the most recent Coast Guard-published list under 46 U.S.C. 70022(c)(2) or knowingly registered more than 180 days after list publication by a government maintaining registration of a listed vessel) to also include vessels that have transited a designated port, harbor, or marine terminal located in a Western Hemisphere country with a U.S. free trade agreement, accessible only through land owned, held, or controlled by a U.S. person. It authorizes the President to designate such a facility if nationalized, expropriated, or similarly seized by the foreign government (provided no arbitration is pending under the applicable free trade agreement) and requires removal of the designation if conditions cease, ownership is restored, adequate compensation is provided, or the dispute is resolved. It further adds exceptions to the prohibition for (1) vessels on the list experiencing an emergency or involving an individual in emergency; or (2) vessels authorized by the U.S. person owner described in the new provision to transit the designated facilities. (Thus, the amendment restructures subsection (b) into subparagraphs (1)(A)–(C) and adds presidential designation and removal processes in (b)(2)–(3), with conforming changes to exception cross-references in (a)(2)(A).)