"This is also a constitutional breach since these matters are usually decided by the Congress through legislation."
Unfortunately for us, that's not completely correct. Under current trade law, Congress has granted broad authority to the president to, among other things, impose tariffs on unfair trade practices. That's why members of Congress are asking him not to do it rather than telling him he can't do it. Both Bush and Obama imposed tariffs (Bush on steel, Obama on tires) that turned out to be disastrous and had to be lifted. Trump is going down the same road.
The only thing Trump has really been consistent about over the years is his belief in protectionist trade policies; these don't sit too well with Republicans, especially when the economy is doing well and we're in an election year. But unless they can talk him out of it, they're pretty much powerless to stop him. Any legislation they pass now would have to be veto-proof to be effective. |
