Senators insist on having say in trade policy

WASHINGTON – The Senate signaled Wednesday it is ready to push back on President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Thirty-nine Republicans and 49 Democrats backed a resolution calling for Congress to have a role when the president imposes trade barriers in the name of national security, as he did this year on steel and aluminum. The largely symbolic resolution came a day after Trump released a list of $200 billion in Chinese goods that the administration said would be subject to a 10 percent tariff. Beijing vowed to retaliate.

Even though the nonbinding measure approved Wednesday does not address the most recent U.S.-Chinese trade dispute, it signaled an increased willingness by the GOP-led Congress to stand up to Trump.

Many GOP lawmakers are concerned that retaliatory tariffs from China, the European Union and elsewhere could raise consumer costs and hurt farmers and manufacturers before the midterm elections.

The resolution, led by Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., is focused on Trump’s decision to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada, Mexico, the European Union and others.

“It’s a baby step,” conceded Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

He and others called the motion a necessary step against what they say is Trump’s abuse of his authority.

Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., who voted against the measure, said it would unnecessarily tie Trump’s hands and those of future presidents.

Sen. Bob Corker