Corker spurns Trump request; files bipartisan tariffs legislation with Alexander as co-sponsor
Sen. Bob Corker introduced a bipartisan bill Wednesday that would give Congress new authority to check the president’s trade moves, going forward with the legislation despite a personal appeal from President Trump to back off, reports the Washington Post.
Corker’s bill would require congressional approval when the president enacts tariffs under the auspices of national security, as Trump did last week in imposing levies on aluminum and steel imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union.
The legislation, which Corker released with a total of nine Democratic and Republican co-sponsors, is the most forceful congressional response to date to Trump’s protectionist trade agenda. For the first time, at least some Republicans are uniting behind a concrete plan to force the president to change course on trade, after months of pleas and appeals achieved little.
The development comes as Trump prepares to travel to Quebec for a meeting of the Group of Seven nations, a gathering expected to include confrontations between Trump and foreign leaders — including close U.S. allies and major trading partners — over the president’s tariffs and other policies.
Trump attempted Wednesday to stave off the legislation. Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who is not seeking reelection, said the president called him Wednesday morning and asked him not to file the bill.
But Corker rebuffed Trump’s request. “ ‘I’m a United States senator, and, you know, I have responsibilities, and I’m going to continue to carry them out,’ ” Corker said he told Trump.
Corker said that during a lengthy conversation, the president argued that the senator’s bill would limit Trump’s negotiating authority.
“It’s a difference of opinion,” Corker said. “He feels that this takes away his negotiating ability, and this in no way takes away his negotiating ability. It’s not any different from him meeting with Kim Jong Un, and, if they reach a deal, him bringing it to the Congress for approval. I’ve explained it’s exactly the same thing.
“He’s obviously not pleased with this effort,” said Corker, who has clashed with the president in the past. “We had a heartfelt conversation. Finally, a lot of time had gone by, and I had other meetings.”
Corker is hoping to attach his bill as an amendment to an annual defense policy bill pending in the Senate. The bill’s prospects are unclear. Corker acknowledged that some Republicans are unwilling to cross the president, and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has ruled out bringing up the measure as a stand-alone bill.
But Corker’s bill appeared to be gaining traction on and off Capitol Hill on Wednesday. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced its support, as did Koch Industries.
…The co-sponsors are Republican Sens. Patrick J. Toomey (Pa.), Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Mike Lee (Utah), Ron Johnson (Wis.) and Jeff Flake (Ariz.), along with Democrats Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), Mark R. Warner (Va.), Brian Schatz (Hawaii) and Chris Van Hollen (Md.).
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Press release from Sen. Lamar Alexander
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 6, 2018 – United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today cosponsored a bill to restore congressional approval of tariffs involving national security.
“Tariffs are the constitutional responsibility of Congress. If the president thinks that tariffs are necessary for national security reasons, our bill requires Congress to approve that decision within 60 days.”
Alexander continued: “In general, these kinds of tariffs are a big mistake, and using national security as an excuse is a bigger mistake. There is no state that is likely to be more damaged by tariffs on aluminum and steel than Tennessee, because in many ways we are the nation’s number one auto state—we have more than 900 automotive suppliers in 88 of our 95 counties, one third of our manufacturing jobs are auto jobs and almost all of our auto manufacturing uses aluminum and steel. I have urged President Trump instead to focus on reciprocity—do for our country what our country does for you—instead of imposing tariffs, which are basically higher taxes on American consumers.”
Background:
Alexander cosponsored legislation introduced by Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) that would require congressional approval of tariffs proposed by the president under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to address threats to national security.
Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress authority to regulate trade with foreign nations and to impose tariffs. In 1962, Congress delegated some of this authority to the Executive Branch. This legislation restores Congress’s ability to approve certain tariffs if the president believes they are necessary.
Note: Corker’s press release is HERE.
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