You know, if only there were someone who could actually do something about it...
It's not like tariffs are part of the president's innate Constitutional powers. They're part of Congress's powers. Implementing a tariff is supposed to require an act of Congress.
However, Congress passed legislation long ago that allowed the president, in an emergency, to make limited targeted tariffs for national security reasons. If we're suddenly at war with someone, we probably don't want to be trading vital raw materials with them. In a Pearl Harbor scenario, it made sense for the president to be able to instantly cut someone like Japan off from US exports. That's what this power the president is using is meant for. But Trump has been abusing the Hell out of this power, declaring everything a national security matter. He implemented blanket steel and aluminum tariffs, as if every nation on Earth is a national security threat to the US.
Congress could easily fix this. They could pass legislation that severely curtailed the president's ability to raise tariffs, and reclaim the power that is rightfully theirs. And if Republicans cooperated, they could easily do so at a veto-proof margin.
So McConnell, don't just removed about it. If you really hate the tariffs, do something about it.
I guess that's one way to announce your retirement - with too little, too late, a half-hearted tort.
Did a turtle sigh somewhere?
