Wyden, Paul, Schumer, and Kaine Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Repeal Global Tariffs and Restore Congressional Authority Over Trade
Senators Shaheen, Welch, and Warren Cosponsor Bill to Reverse Price-Hiking Global Tariffs
Washington, D.C. – Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., introduced legislation today to repeal Donald Trump’s global tariffs, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
The binding measure will be treated as a privileged resolution that must receive a vote on the Senate floor. The measure would terminate the emergency that Trump declared in order to slap tariffs of up to 40% on products Americans buy from other countries.
In the wake of Trump’s tariff declaration, costs have increased, manufacturers have laid off thousands of workers and halted domestic investments, and foreign countries have sharply cut purchases of American agricultural exports.
The members introduced a similar measure in April. It narrowly failed on a 49-49 vote.
“Trump is driving our economy into a recession, killing farming and ranching jobs and bankrupting small businesses with his reckless global tariffs,” Wyden said. “Every Senator who values Americans’ jobs and economic prosperity should join our bipartisan legislation to eliminate these poisonous tariffs. No matter who is president, Senators should stand up for Congress’s Constitutional role as final word on trade.”
“Tariffs are taxes. They drive up the costs for things Americans buy every day and make it harder for American businesses to thrive and create more jobs," Dr. Paul said. "That is why the Constitution sets a high bar for enacting a new tax - Congress must pass a law and the President must sign it. These new taxes in the form of tariffs imposed by the White House don’t just fail on economics, they fail on the Constitution and must be reversed.”
“Americans are worse off because President Trump decided to start trade wars that have raised costs of everyday goods, hurt businesses, and resulted in Americans losing their jobs,” Kaine said. “The Constitution says only Congress has the power to levy taxes, and it is time for Congress to step in and put an end to Trump’s illegal import taxes, which will cost the average American family thousands of dollars.”
“The President’s reckless trade war has already gone far beyond everyone’s worst predictions. In just a matter of months, President Trump has raised prices for working families across the country, thrown the economy into chaos, and threatened jobs—all in pursuit of deeply misguided foreign policy goals. Trump’s tariffs have been terrible for Vermont’s economy and eroded trust between our neighbors and best allies in trade,” Welch said. “Congress must stand up and reassert our constitutional authority in setting trade policy before President Trump’s unconstitutional tariffs ruin more lives and livelihoods.”
“Donald Trump promised to lower costs on ‘day one,’ but his chaotic tariffs are inflicting real pain on our economy. American families are paying more as the prices of groceries, rent, and health care skyrocket,” Warren said. “Congress has the power to stop this. Instead of shutting down the government, Republicans can join Democrats and end this today.”
The text of the resolution is here. A one-page summary is here.
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