Duffy finds 18 co-sponsors for bill to increase Trump’s tariff powers

Duffy finds 18 co-sponsors for bill to increase Trump’s tariff powers

By ADAM BEHSUDI

01/24/2019 02:07 PM EST

Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) introduced a bill Thursday that would give President Donald Trump expansive new power to raise tariffs in response to actions taken by other countries.

It is the type of power that Trump would welcome, especially as his administration has turned to little-known legal provisions to impose new duties over the past two years. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has been personally involved in an effort to get lawmakers to support the bill and Trump is expected to mention the legislation during his State of the Union address, according to sources familiar with the effort.

Duffy‘s release included a spreadsheet showing various products that have lower U.S. tariffs when compared with duties imposed by other countries on the same products.

“The goal of the U.S. Reciprocal Trade Act is NOT to raise America’s tariffs but rather to encourage the rest of the world to lower theirs,” Duffy said in a statement. “The American people deserve FREE and FAIR trade, and the Reciprocal Trade Act will be an important step in achieving that goal.”

The bill currently has 18 Republican co-sponsors, including many Trump allies. The co-sponsors are Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), Paul Cook (R-Cali.), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), David McKinley (R-W.V.), Carol Miller (R-W.V.), Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), Duncan Hunter (R-Cali.), Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), Pete King (R-N.Y.), Michael Burgess (R-Texas), Billy Long (R-Mo.), Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.) and David Rouzer (R-N.C.).

But Sen. Chuck Grassley, who controls the Senate Finance Committee that oversees trade issues, has already dismissed the idea of the bill advancing.

Other senior Republicans, including Grassley, support separate legislation that would rein in Trump’s powers to raise tariffs for national security reasons, an authority he used to impose duties on steel and aluminum imports and is considering for automobiles and auto parts.

“We ain't gonna give him any greater authority," Grassley told reporters this month when asked about Duffy’s bill plans.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/...powers-2555509

Good. Great bill. It should be lobbied and passed.

Hey, Chuck Grassley, you need to read the bill and listen to your constituents before commenting.