H.R. 6619

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6619 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6619

To authorize preferential treatment for certain imports from the 
Pacific Islands.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 11, 2025

Mr. Case introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To authorize preferential treatment for certain imports from the 
Pacific Islands.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Regional Opportunities for 
Sustainable Prosperity and Economic Resilience in the Pacific Act'' or 
the ``PROSPER in the Pacific Act''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States has longstanding and enduring 
cultural, historic, economic, strategic, and people-to-people 
connections with the Pacific Islands, based on shared values, 
cultural histories, common interests, and a commitment to 
fostering mutual understanding and cooperation;
(2) the economies of the Pacific Islands countries face 
significant challenges including geographic isolation, limited 
economic diversification, vulnerability to natural disasters, 
and underdeveloped infrastructure and trade capacity, that can 
make conventional economic indicators based on average national 
income poor measures of development progress and welfare 
outcomes;
(3) strengthening U.S.-Pacific Islands economic ties 
through a preferential trade program would promote inclusive 
economic development, create sustainable job opportunities, and 
improve standards of living in the region; and
(4) a U.S.-led preferential trade program would also make 
Americans safer, stronger, and more prosperous by advancing a 
free and open Indo-Pacific, prioritizing sovereignty, economic 
independence, and the rule of law.

SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

(a) In General.--The President shall authorize the provision of 
preferential treatment under section 4 to articles that are imported 
directly from a Pacific Islands country into the customs territory of 
the United States if the President determines that the country--
(1) meets the requirements set forth in paragraphs (1), 
(2), and (3) of section 104 of the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3703);
(2) does not meet any of the bases for ineligibility under 
section 502(b)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 
2462(b)(2)) and does not meet any of the additional bases for 
ineligibility under subsection (c); and
(3) after taking into account the factors set forth in 
paragraphs (1) through (7) of subsection (c) of section 502 of 
the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2462) and the additional 
factors set forth in subsection (d), the country meets the 
eligibility requirements of such section 502.
Any income threshold requirements applicable for purposes of 
determining whether a country is eligible to be designated as a 
beneficiary developing country or least-developed beneficiary 
developing country under title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 
2461 et seq.) shall not apply with respect to determining whether a 
Pacific Islands country is eligible for preferential treatment under 
section 4.
(b) Withdrawal, Suspension, or Limitation of Preferential 
Treatment; Mandatory Graduation.--The provisions of subsection (d) of 
section 502 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2462) shall apply with 
respect to Pacific Island countries to the same extent and in the same 
manner as such provisions apply with respect to beneficiary developing 
countries under title V of that Act (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.).
(c) Additional Bases for Ineligibility.--The President may not 
authorize the provision of preferential treatment under section 4 to 
articles that are imported directly from a Pacific Islands country into 
the customs territory of the United States if any of the following 
applies:
(1) Such country fails to effectively afford 
internationally recognized worker rights to workers in the 
country (including any designated zone in that country).
(2) Such country engages in gross violations of 
internationally recognized human rights in that country 
(including any designated zone in that country).
(3) Such country fails to effectively enforce its 
environmental laws, regulations, or other measures, or to 
fulfill its international environmental obligations, including 
as such obligations relate to public health and illegal, 
unreported, and unregulated fishing.
(d) Additional Factors Affecting Country Designation.--In 
determining whether to authorize the provision of preferential 
treatment under section 4 to articles that are imported directly from a 
Pacific Islands country into the customs territory of the United 
States, the President shall take into account--
(1) whether or not such country effectively affords to 
workers in that country (including any designated zone in that 
country) internationally recognized worker rights;
(2) the extent to which such country effectively enforces 
its environmental laws, regulations, and other measures, and 
fulfills its international environmental obligations, including 
as such obligations relates to public health and illegal, 
unreported, and unregulated fishing; and
(3) the extent to which such country has established, or is 
making continual progress toward establishing--
(A) the rule of law, political pluralism, and the 
right to due process, a fair trial, and equal 
protection under the law;
(B) economic policies to reduce poverty increase 
the availability of health care and educational 
opportunities, expand physical infrastructure, promote 
the development of private enterprise, and encourage 
the formation of capital markets through micro-credit 
or other programs; and
(C) a system to combat corruption and bribery, such 
as signing and implementing the Convention on Combating 
Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International 
Business Transactions.

SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN BENEFITS.

The President is authorized to designate articles as eligible 
articles from a Pacific Islands country that is listed as eligible for 
benefits under section 3(a) to the same extent and in the same manner 
as the President is authorized to designate articles as eligible 
articles from least developed beneficiary developing countries under 
section 503 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2463), including 
subsections (a)(2) and (b) of such section.

SEC. 5. FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH PACIFIC ISLANDS COUNTRIES.

(a) Declaration of Policy.--Congress declares that free trade 
agreements should be negotiated, where feasible, with interested 
countries in the Pacific Islands, in order to serve as the catalyst for 
increasing trade between the United States and the Pacific Islands and 
increasing private sector investment in the Pacific Islands.
(b) Plan Requirement.--
(1) In general.--The President, taking into account the 
willingness of the Governments of Pacific Islands countries to 
engage in negotiations to enter into free trade agreements, 
shall develop a plan for the purpose of negotiating and 
entering into one or more trade agreements with interested 
beneficiary Pacific Islands countries.
(2) Elements of plan.--The plan shall include the 
following:
(A) The specific objectives of the United States 
with respect to negotiations described in paragraph (1) 
and a suggested timetable for achieving those 
objectives.
(B) The benefits to both the United States and the 
relevant Pacific Islands countries with respect to the 
applicable free trade agreement or agreements.
(C) A mutually agreed-upon timetable for the 
negotiations.
(D) The implications for and the role of regional 
and subregional organizations in the Pacific Islands 
with respect to such free trade agreement or 
agreements.
(E) Subject matter anticipated to be covered by the 
negotiations and United States laws, programs, and 
policies, as well as the laws of participating eligible 
Pacific Islands countries and existing bilateral and 
multilateral and economic cooperation and trade 
agreements, that may be affected by the agreement or 
agreements.
(F) Procedures to ensure the following:
(i) Adequate consultation with the Congress 
and the private sector during the negotiations.
(ii) Consultation with the Congress 
regarding all matters relating to 
implementation of the agreement or agreements.
(iii) Approval by the Congress of the 
agreement or agreements.
(iv) Adequate consultations with the 
relevant Pacific Islands governments and 
Pacific Islands regional and subregional 
intergovernmental organizations during the 
negotiation of the agreement or agreements.
(c) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 12 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall prepare and transmit 
to the Congress a report containing the plan developed pursuant to 
subsection (b).

SEC. 6. TRADE FACILITATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the President shall, in consultation with the Governments of 
eligible Pacific Islands countries, establish a trade facilitation and 
capacity building program for the Pacific Islands--
(1) to enhance the Governments of eligible Pacific Islands 
countries to support successful exporters and to build 
awareness among potential exporters in eligible Pacific Islands 
countries about opportunities abroad and ways to manage trade 
documentation and regulations in the United States and other 
countries, including through outreach to civil society 
organizations, indigenous groups, and trade associations;
(2) to provide export finance training for financial 
institutions in eligible Pacific Islands countries and the 
Governments of eligible Pacific Islands countries;
(3) to assist the Governments of eligible Pacific Islands 
countries in maintaining publication of all trade regulations, 
forms for exporters and importers, tax and tariff rates, and 
other documentation relating to exporting goods on the internet 
and developing a robust public-private dialogue for eligible 
Pacific Islands countries to identify timelines for 
implementation of key reforms and solutions, as provided for 
under the Agreement on Trade Facilitation of the World Trade 
Organization; and
(4) to increase access to guides for importers and 
exporters on the internet, including rules and documentation 
for United States tariff preference programs.

SEC. 7. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.

The President shall submit to Congress, not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through 
2036, a comprehensive report on the trade and investment policy of the 
United States for the Pacific Islands, and on the implementation of 
this Act.

SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

No duty-free treatment provided under this Act shall remain in 
effect after December 31, 2036.

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) The term ``internationally recognized worker rights'' 
includes--
(A) the right of association;
(B) the right to organize and bargain collectively;
(C) a prohibition on the use of any form of forced 
or compulsory labor;
(D) a minimum age for the employment of children, 
and a prohibition on the ``worst forms of child 
labor'', as defined in section 507(6) of the Trade Act 
of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2467(6));
(E) acceptable conditions of work with respect to 
minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety 
and health;
(F) the elimination of discrimination with respect 
to employment and occupation; and
(G) the elimination of violence or threats of 
violence against workers, including violence related to 
gender-based violence or harassment in the workplace 
and violence related to workers exercising or 
attempting to exercise any of the rights described in 
subparagraphs (A) through (F).
(2) The terms ``Pacific Islands'', ``Pacific Islands 
country'', ``country in the Pacific Islands'', and ``countries 
in the Pacific Islands'' means the Cook Islands, the Republic 
of Fiji, the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall 
Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of 
Nauru, Niue, the Republic of Palau, the Independent State of 
Papua New Guinea, the Independent State of Samoa, the Solomon 
Islands, the Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, and the Republic of 
Vanuatu.
<all>