Sen. Welch leads effort to repeal Trump tariffs with support of key Republican senator
Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, is leading an effort to reassert Congress' control of trade policy by terminating the emergency that President Donald Trump declared in order to impose global tariffs on products Americans buy from other countries, including a tariff of 10% on all imported goods, and 145% on Chinese-made goods.
"The President's reckless global trade war has already gone far beyond everyone's worst predictions," Welch said in a news release. "In just a matter of days, President Trump has thrown the economy into chaos and wiped out Vermonters' retirement funds − all in an apparent attempt to achieve deeply misguided foreign policy goals. Congress must stand up and reassert our constitutional role in setting trade policy before Trump's tariffs ruin more lives and livelihoods."
In addition to support from a group of leading Senate Democrats, the legislation is being supported by Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.
"Tariffs are taxes, and the power to tax belongs to Congress − not the president," Paul said in a news release. "Our founders were clear: tax policy should never rest in the hands of one person. Abusing emergency powers to impose blanket tariffs not only drives up costs for American families but also tramples on the Constitution. It's time Congress reasserts its authority and restores the balance of power."
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, said in a news release that Trump's "trade chaos" has put America's entire economy at the mercy of "one man's social media account."
"Congress can't sit on its hands while (Trump) slaps a new 10 percent tax on everything families buy, and leaves businesses and seniors in limbo until the next tariff flip-flop," Wyden said. "Congress needs to pass our bipartisan bill, end the tariff rollercoaster, and restore Congress' constitutional authority over trade."
Under Senate rules, the measure will receive a vote on the Senate floor shortly after the Senate returns from a state work period later this month. If enacted, the resolution would terminate the emergency that Trump declared, and reverse Trumps tariffs of 10% on all imported goods and 145% on Chinese-made goods, which have led to thousands of workers being laid off, as well as other countries imposing their own tariffs on U.S.-made goods.
Contact Dan D'Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Bill to repeal Trump's tariffs has support of Republican Rand Paul
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