Tariffs and Trump Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene is calling on Republicans to push back on President Trump’s tariff threats against Canada and Mexico.
She says the Constitution is very clear, that Congress, not the President, has the power to impose taxes and tariffs and to regulate foreign commerce …
DelBENE … “And my Republican colleagues used to agree with this back when there was a Democrat in the White House. In 2023, Chairman Jason Smith said that President Biden's trade initiatives sidestepped Congress and that the Biden administration, “unfortunately, has refused to recognize that the Constitution requires Congress be at the center of U.S. trade policy.”
And yet, DelBene says here we are …
DelBENE … “If the President's 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico go through, the President would be in effect, withdrawing the United States from the bipartisan USMCA trade agreement that Congress overwhelmingly approved of.
As did the President in his first term, DelBene says, but this time, no collaboration whatsoever …
DelBENE … “Trade Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith said, “a successful trade agenda will require close cooperation with Congress every step of the way. This coordination is not optional. Yet there has been absolutely zero coordination with Congress on trade under the Trump
administration.”
DelBene says President Trump abused the law by announcing tariffs under emergency powers and not consulting Congress.
