US senator’s bill targets tariff powers
US Senator Bob Corker on Wednesday defied President Donald Trump’s personal objections and introduced legislation to check the leader’s ability to impose tariffs.
Trump called the Tennessee Republican and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday morning and asked him to drop his plan. Corker said he and the president had a lengthy, “heartfelt” conversation about the legislation.
“He’s obviously not pleased with this effort,” Corker said.
“It’s a difference of opinion. He feels that this takes away his negotiating ability. And this in no way takes away his negotiating ability. It’s not any different than him meeting with Kim Jong-un, (top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) and, if they reach a deal, him bringing it to Congress for approval. I’ve explained it’s exactly the same thing.”
The legislation came after the Trump administration used a national security justification last week when it announced that the US would slap steep steel and aluminum tariffs on the European Union, Canada and Mexico, ending exemptions for the key trading allies. They are now subject to a 25 percent tariff on steel and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum.
Corker has challenged the government’s justification that it imposed tariffs because of national security risks.
The legislation would require the president to submit to Congress any tariffs imposed under a process that invokes national security. The tariffs would be given expedited consideration, and Congress would have 60 days to debate and vote on them.
But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday that he would not take up Corker’s tariff bill as separate legislation. However, he said that he would be open to adding it as an amendment to other legislation such as the National Defense Authorization Act.
If approved by the Senate, it would go to the House, but Republican Speaker Paul Ryan downplayed its chances of being passed there and said any such bill would not survive a Trump veto.