The American President has levied a wide range of un precedented tariffs against about 180 nations and sub-national jurisdictions world-wide.
The United States Constitution is crystal clear regarding the authority to levy tariffs. See here...
"Article I, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, known as the Legislative Vesting Clause, provides that "[a]ll legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States." Article I, Section 8 includes among Congress's specific powers the power to "regulate Commerce with foreign Nations"4 and the power to "lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises." The Constitution thus gives Congress the power to enact legislation imposing tariffs on U.S. imports, although it limits this power by providing that tariffs "shall be uniform throughout the United States." (https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48435)
This congressional authority over tariffs has been delegated to the President of the United States in certain circumstances.
These include the following...
- Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 - tariffs based on national security of importation of a particular article;
- Section 338(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 - tariffs on articles of any foreign country that discriminates against articles that affect the growth of the United States;
- The International Emergency Economic Powers Act - tariffs to deal with any unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States, should the President of the United States declares a national emergency with respect to such threat;
- Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 - tariffs if American rights under a trade agreement are being denied; and,
- Section 301 - tariffs “if an act, policy or practice of a foreign country .... is unjustifiable or restricts United States commerce.” (https://cdhowe.org/publication/jon-johnson-does-a-us-president-have-the-power-to-unilaterally-impose-tariffs/)
These authorities come from the United States Congress. The tariffs that President Trump has imposed are not supported by the majority of federal legislators. It is just a matter of time before Trump loses a stand-off with Congress, and the tariffs are revoked.
On that, the United States Senate has voted to halt tariffs on Canada - 51 to 48. The Senators in question do not accept the Trump Administration's rationale for tariffs on Canada, which is based on alleged and completely non-existent massive imports of Fentanyl. The vote has to be confirmed in the House of Representatives for the tariffs to actually be revoked. As of writing, there is no plan for this to happen.
It doesn't matter. The Senate's vote to revoke tariffs on Canada will be small potatoes compared to what is coming. As Trump's completely unprecedented and massive tariffs work their way through the world's economy, sparking inflation in the United States and an unprecedented world-wide recession, American legislators will either have to take action, or face the wrath of American voters at the mid-terms in 18 months.
These tariffs are the solvent that will finally dissolve the glue that has kept the MAGA movement together.
No one who is up for reelection in November, 2026 can stand for office if they did nothing to stop this economic madness. The only thing holding them back will be the prospect of delivering massive tax cuts to their corporate and wealthy benefactors - the screams of their constituents will overwhelm this inclination.
Trump is about to suffer a political defeat that may break his presidency.
Having checked Trump in Congress, and in light of the fact that he will be a lame duck president in less than two years, Republicans may finally show some backbone and cut him loose. Other than facing one or two more impeachment trials for misbehavior in office, Trump may well spend most of his time golfing as Americans struggle to recover from the leadership of a man who has not had an original economic thought in 40 years.
This is a matter of "Shooting yourself (and the rest of the world) in the foot..." (WB 🐰)
Amen!
