Close EXIM, repeal Jones Act, restore Trade Promotion Authority (free-trade case)
Lassman recommends closing the Export–Import Bank (charter lapse), repealing the Jones Act, and restoring presidential Trade Promotion Authority for ally trade deals while keeping trade-unrelated provisions out of agreements.
Mandate
Mandate Ch. 26 (Trade) — The Case for Free Trade (Lassman): close the Export–Import Bank; repeal the Jones Act; work with Congress to restore the President’s Trade Promotion Authority to expedite agreements with UK, Switzerland, Taiwan, EU, and other allies and keep trade-unrelated provisions out of trade agreements; EXIM charter expires end of 2026—closing should be an easy decision.
Undo plan
1) Reauthorize EXIM with transparency reforms rather than automatic closure if export-credit competition with China/Europe remains.
2) Modernize Jones Act with targeted waivers and shipyard investment instead of sudden full repeal that strands sealift readiness.
3) Renew TPA with labor/environment baseline safeguards and congressional consultation, not trade-only absolutism that kills ratification.
4) Separate climate/labor riders into parallel instruments where needed without killing market access.
5) Verify: EXIM exposure; Jones Act fleet/sealift metrics; TPA-covered agreements.