Beyer Statement On Trump Tariff Announcement

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), the Senior House Democrat on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee and a member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, issued the following statement today after President Trump announced new 10 to 12.5 percent tariffs on dozens of countries, including key U.S. trading partners:

“If President Trump wanted to raise our prices and run our economy into the ground, I don’t know what he would be doing differently. His tariffs, like his foolish war with Iran, are an illegal and ill-advised usurpation of congressional authority that will do lasting damage to our country. The supposed ‘investigation’ used to justify them is obviously, laughably, fraudulent. We know Trump doesn’t care about forced labor since he directly urged President Xi to build more camps in Xinjiang. Everyone involved should be embarrassed. The American people are sick to death of Republicans’ refusal to do anything about it.”

President Trump’s latest tariff announcement comes on the heels of newly announced tariffs on Brazil, Canada, and generic drugs. Recent analysis from Congress’ Joint Economic Committee found that American families have had to spend $3,500+ more under President Trump, increases largely driven by the President’s tariffs and ongoing war with Iran.

Rep. Don Beyer serves as Senior House Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee, chairs the New Democrat Coalition’s Trade Task Force, and serves on the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee.

Beyer is the sponsor of the Congressional Trade Authority Act, which would rein in presidential abuses of authorities under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. He is the co-lead, with Rep. Suzan DelBene, of legislation to end abuses of International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariff authorities, and an original cosponsor of the Repealing Outdated and Unilateral Tariff Authorities Act, which would repeal Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930; the Reclaim Trade Powers Act, which would strike Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, a law that currently allows the President to impose sweeping 15% tariffs on all imports under a “balance of payments” crisis; and the Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act, which would halt President Trump’s trade wars, repeal tariffs, and reclaim Congress’ lawful authority over tariffs.