26. Trade · Major · Needs Congress · Contested — excluded from counts
Close the Export–Import Bank
Printed page 800 26. Trade · from “The Case for Free Trade”
“Close the Export–Import Bank, which serves mainly to subsidize foreign buyers’ purchases of goods from a handful of well-connected American manufacturers.”
What has happened
- Not started
The Bank is open and doing more, not less, of the business the Quote objects to. EXIM's board approved long-term loans and guarantees over $100 million throughout the window — the most recent Federal Register notices are dated 2026-08-24 — and the Bank expanded its Make More in America initiative on 2026-06-23 and announced a return to profitability on 2026-07-31. The Senate confirmed a new EXIM President on 2025-09-18. No bill to close the Bank was found; the only reauthorization bill, S. 3772, would extend its authority to 2036 and is still in committee.
No action found yet. This entry is the starting point, not a finding.
Research log
What was searched, and what didn’t count as evidence
Research notes
- This is a Contested Recommendation, from Chapter 26’s “The Case for Free Trade”. Chapter 23 asks separately that the Bank be abolished (#2005, from the essay arguing for abolition), and the same Chapter 26 essay separately asks that Congress let the charter expire at the end of 2026 (#2121). Three asks, one institution: closing the Bank by statute is not the same event as a charter lapsing on its own. Logged here for Chapter 26; the overlap is flagged for the consistency pass (ticket 12).
- Contrary action, Primary sources loaded this session (the same record supports #2005
and #2121):
- EXIM Federal Register notice of a final commitment for a long-term loan or guarantee over $100 million, 2026-08-24 — https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/24/2026-17194/application-for-final-commitment-for-a-long-term-loan-or-financial-guarantee-in-excess-of-100
- “EXIM Expands Make More in America Initiative to Unlock Private Capital for U.S. Manufacturers”, 2026-06-23 — https://www.exim.gov/news/exim-expands-make-more-america-initiative-unlock-private-capital-for-manufacturers
- “EXIM Announces Return to Profitability, Putting Money Back in Taxpayers’ Pockets”, 2026-07-31 — https://www.exim.gov/news/exim-announces-return-profitability-putting-money-back-taxpayers-pockets
- Senate roll call 119-1-526, 2025-09-18, confirming the EXIM President 51–47 — https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00526.htm
- S. 3772, Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2026 — https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119s3772/html/BILLS-119s3772.htm
- Action
- abolish
- Object
- Export–Import Bank of the United States
- ID
- 2100