§ 35-2. Purpose of subtitle.

(a) Findings.

The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore find that:

(1) the economy and general welfare of this City and its people, as well as the economy and welfare of the State of Maryland and the United States, is adversely affected when international fair trade laws are not being equitably applied to all nations;

(2) unfair trade practices have resulted in foreign products saturating city, state, and national markets, which places American businesses and industry in an untenable competitive posture;

(3) the erosion of American industry, especially the automobile industry, has already translated into the loss of thousands of American jobs;

(4) the taxes paid to the City and the State by local workers engaged in the production, construction, and sale of such products provide a significant source of public revenue in Baltimore City and the State of Maryland; and

(5) with the reduction of the tax base and the loss of other revenue caused by plant closings, the loss of jobs, and related economic dislocations and relocations, the City is faced with a great fiscal burden when thousands of our citizens must seek public assistance.

(b) Declaration of policy.

The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City declares that it is the policy of this City that:

(1) the City Purchasing Agent and all City agencies, at all times, shall aid and promote the economy of the City and likewise the State and the United States by making every reasonable effort to ensure that passenger cars and trucks purchased through the City's procurement system be produced in the United States;

(2) the first option in the purchase of passenger cars and trucks by any City agency should be the purchase of such items that are completely produced in the United States;

(3) a program be established by September 30, 1991, to inform bidders of the City's policy for passenger cars and trucks of American businesses;

(4) as a first step in the process, this policy shall apply to the procurement of all passenger cars and trucks; and

(5) additional products shall be added by executive order or legislation of the Baltimore City Council.