President Donald Trump says he does not need Congress to impose tariffs, but his recent attempts to impose new import duties could trigger difficult votes for Republicans ahead of midterms. And Democrats are vowing to disrupt attempts to extend Trump’s trade policy.
Shortly after the Supreme Court spiked a majority of Trump’s tariffs on Friday, the president doubled-down and issued another round using Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. That statute caps rates at 15% and requires congressional authorization for an extension beyond 150 days, creating the potential for a difficult vote on an unpopular issue for congressional Republicans in the midst of election season.
“I’m freaked out about it. Because every poll shows that American voters are against tariffs at a 2-to-1 ratio. The president has latched on to a very unpopular policy,” said Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., one of six Republicans who voted earlier this month to strike down Trump’s 35% tariff on Canadian imports.
The Supreme Court’s decision, which struck down tariffs Trump issued using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, dealt a massive blow to Trump’s economic agenda and could change the dynamics of the fight in Congress over the president’s signature trade policy.
