Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Politicians talk about curbing Trump’s tariffs

Politicians are talking openly about taking legislative action to curb United States President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

“If the administration continues forward with its misguided and reckless reliance on tariffs, I will work to advance trade legislation to curtail presidential trade authority,” said Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah. He’s a Republican.

“As the president taxes Americans with tariffs, he pushes away our allies and further strengthens [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. It is time for Congress to step up and take back our authorities. We have legislation to do that. Let’s vote,” Hatch said in the Senate earlier this week.

According to Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady, another Republican who comes from Texas, there is “momentum for a legislative response or solution” to water down Trump’s trade authority.

There is growing farmer opposition to Trump’s tariffs, particularly from pork and soybean producers whose exports to China have been hit by retaliatory tariffs.

Yet polls indicate that Trump’s support in rural areas remains as strong as ever.