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Before Trump could impose tariffs on auto imports, the Commerce Department must issue a finding that they pose a national security threat to the United States. Several Republican lawmakers have said such a finding would be laughable, but the Commerce Department has flexibility to make a determination on its own.

A Commerce Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the process so far, said the review had not been completed and no final decisions had been made.

But even with a final decision at least one month away, many of Trump’s fellow Republicans are getting nervous.

“There are some in the economic community who view this as the bright line,” said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a Republican and former director of the Congressional Budget Office. If Trump does this, Holtz-Eakin said, many Republicans have told him they will no longer “support the president any more. They are done.”

There are growing signs, though, that Trump is cognizant of the GOP trade criticism and he taking steps to try to quell a mutiny. His administration on Tuesday announced up to US$12 billion in emergency aid to farmers who are facing retaliatory tariffs from Mexico and China, among other countries.

Gary Cohn was a lead voice among those cautioning Trump against protectionism, but he is gone

Farmers have called on Trump to back down from his tariff strategy, but Trump made clear Tuesday and Wednesday that he had no plans to, believing it gives him the upper hand in negotiations.

Trump’s defiance stands in sharp contrast to what happened in the White House last year, when senior advisers were able to prevent Trump from following his protectionist instincts on trade decisions. The president had wanted to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement and a trade deal with South Korea, but he was talked out of it.