After Trump escalates trade war with China, Senate moves to push back

Michael Collins, The Tennessean | Nashville Tennessean

Show Caption Hide Caption 'This is an abuse of presidential authority': Sen. Bob Corker on Trump's tariffs policy Senator Bob Corker spoke on the Senate floor over about tariffs

WASHINGTON – The Senate signaled for the first time Wednesday that it is ready to push back on recent tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

Senators voted 88 to 11 to pass a largely symbolic resolution pushed by Sen. Bob Corker calling for Congress to have a role when the president imposes tariffs in the name of national security.

The resolution comes a day after Trump escalated his ongoing trade war with China by releasing a list of $200 billion in Chinese goods that would be subject to tariffs. Beijing said it would hit back.

Even though the measure approved Wednesday does not address the U.S.-China trade relationship, it signaled an increased willingness by the Republican-led Congress to stand up to Trump over trade. Many GOP lawmakers are increasingly concerned that tariffs from China and elsewhere could raise consumer costs and hurt farmers and manufacturers.

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The resolution led by Corker is focused on Trump’s decision to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on U.S. allies, including Canada, Mexico and the European Union. Trump cited national security concerns as a reason for imposing the tariffs, a justification that triggered outrage among U.S. allies while also angering some Republicans.

The measure directs a conference committee working to resolve differences on an appropriations bill passed by the House and Senate to include in the final package language giving Congress a say on tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.

The resolution is non-binding, which means the conferees don’t have to follow its instructions.

“It’s a baby step,” conceded Corker, the Tennessee Republican who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has been leading the charge to give Congress a say on tariff policy.

But Corker and other supporters described the motion as a necessary step to stand up against what they called Trump’s abuse of presidential authority.

“I’m so glad that Congress is finally, finally pushing back on this,” said Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.

Sen. Bob Corker chastises Republican senators Sen. Bob Corker angrily chastised his fellow Republicans for failing to allow a vote on his proposal giving Congress the chance to accept or reject tariffs imposed by the president.

Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., who opposed the measure, argued that it would unnecessarily tie Trump’s hands and those of future presidents. Presidents need the freedom to negotiate, Perdue said, and Trump is simply trying to restore fairness to a trade imbalance with U.S. trading partners.

“This is about making sure America is treated fairly,” he said.

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Corker said he intends to continue pushing for a vote on bipartisan legislation that would guarantee that Congress has a voice on tariffs imposed under the guise of national security.

The legislation that Corker is pushing would give Congress the chance to accept or reject tariffs when they are imposed in the name of national security.

Last month, senators rebuffed Corker’s efforts to include the legislation as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, a must-pass military policy bill. Republican leaders blocked a vote on the amendment, prompting a fiery floor speech from Corker in which he accused GOP lawmakers of refusing to put the proposal to a vote because they feared angering Trump.

The next day, Corker told reporters the GOP had become almost like a cult in its support of Trump.