If a country in the Western Hemisphere that has a free trade agreement with the United States seizes or nationalizes a port, harbor, or marine terminal owned by an American company or individual, the President could ban any vessel that uses that port from entering U.S. waters or transferring cargo at U.S. ports. The ban would stay in place until the foreign government either gives the property back, pays full compensation in convertible currency, or otherwise resolves the dispute to the President's satisfaction. There's an exception for emergencies and for vessels the property owner authorizes to use the facility. The bill is targeted at situations where a trade partner expropriates American-owned infrastructure and then tries to keep doing business through U.S. ports as if nothing happened.
Congressional Summary
Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026This bill authorizes the President to prohibit the entry of a vessel into the United States if the vessel has transited any U.S. port, harbor, or marine terminal that has been nationalized or expropriated (e.g., seized) by a Western Hemisphere country that has a free trade agreement with the United States. Under the bill, the President may prohibit the entry and operation of a vessel if it has called at any port, harbor, or marine terminal that was owned, held, or controlled by a U.S. entity or individual, but has been nationalized or expropriated by the government of a country that is located in the Western Hemisphere and has a free trade agreement in effect with the United States.The prohibition ends when the President determines that (1) the applicable country has restored ownership of the property that had been nationalized or expropriated, (2) the applicable country has provided mutually acceptable compensation for the nationalized or expropriated property, (3) the conditions for the prohibition are no longer satisfied, or (4) the dispute has been otherwise resolved to the satisfaction of the President. The bill permits certain foreign vessels that are otherwise prohibited from entering the United States under this bill or current law to enter if the vessel is experiencing an emergency (involving the vessel or an individual on the vessel) and in certain instances where access to a covered facility was granted by a U.S. property owner.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Reported to House
- Action Date
- 2026-03-20
- Date Added
- 2026-03-30