S. 776 — UNITED Act

This section states the sense of Congress that the United States should pursue a high-standard, comprehensive trade agreement with the United Kingdom—building on USMCA standards for labor, environment, intellectual property, and other areas, honoring the Good Friday Agreement, and leveraging prior bilateral efforts—to strengthen economic ties, supply chain resilience, and strategic interests while granting the President new, narrowly tailored negotiating authority to enable swift negotiations and congressional approval.

This section defines, for purposes of the Act—(1) USMCA as the Agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada, done at Buenos Aires on November 30, 2018, as amended at Mexico City on December 10, 2019, and approved by Congress under section 101(a) of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 4511(a)); and (2) United Kingdom as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

This section directs the President to initiate negotiations with the United Kingdom within 180 days of enactment regarding tariff and nontariff barriers and authorizes the President to enter into a comprehensive trade agreement with the United Kingdom, with such authority terminating on March 1, 2029. It further (1) authorizes the President to proclaim modifications to duties necessary to implement the agreement, subject to limitations prohibiting reductions of any duty exceeding 5% ad valorem to below 50% of the rate on the date of enactment, reductions below Uruguay Round rates for import-sensitive agricultural products, or any increase above the enactment-date rate; (2) requires consultation with and notification to Congress before and during negotiations; (3) applies expedited trade authorities procedures under section 151 of the Trade Act of 1974 (i.e., fast-track consideration limiting amendments and ensuring discharge from committee) to implementing bills for such agreement submitted before March 1, 2029; (4) prohibits waiver, suspension, or termination of the agreement without congressional approval; and (5) conditions the agreement's entry into force and implementing bills' fast-track eligibility on compliance with specified negotiating objectives, consultations, notifications, and sovereignty protections under the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015.