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Wednesday 6 June 2018

GOP senators push for bill to rein in Trump on tariffs

By LISA MASCARO and — would be narrowly for it," Schumer said.
KEVIN FREKING crafted legislation requiring But Corker acknowledged
WASHINGTON (AP) — congressional approval the difficulty in passing
Key Senate Republicans of the tariffs Trump has legislation despite
are pushing longshot imposed in the name of "tremendous concern"
legislation that would national security. among lawmakers in both
require Congress to sign They're targeting Trump's parties. "My guess is the
off on President Donald reliance on the so-called administration may have
Trump's import tariffs, a 232 authority, named some resistance," he said.
rare attempt to stand up from Section 232 of the Time and again,
to the administration on a Trade Expansion Act of Republicans in Congress
bedrock issue that once 1962, which allowed the have been reluctant to
defined the GOP. administration to impose put guardrails around
Congressional Republicans tariffs of 25 percent on Trump as the administration
are mostly at odds with imported steel and 10 has veered from GOP
what they view as Trump's percent on imported orthodoxy in policy or as
protectionist instincts on aluminum from Mexico, the president interprets
trade. Despite much hand- Canada and the European the law, as he did earlier
wringing, prospects for Union, some of the U.S.'s this week, to assert the
any bill to challenge him top allies. The senators are special counsel probe
remain uncertain. Many Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., tells reporters also hoping to halt Trump's is unconstitutional and
Republicans are hesitant he intends to cancel the traditional August recess and keep the threat to slap tariffs on auto that he has the power to
Senate in session to deal with backlogged tasks, on Capitol Hill
to confront Trump in a in Washington, Tuesday, June 5, 2018. imports, including those pardon himself.
legislative showdown that Associated Press from Japan. Flake is one of the
could end badly for them. Corker says there's "no way" few Republicans who
Doing so could court a veto Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., for talks. automobiles and the other repeatedly take on Trump,
and bruise their standing saying he preferred to "Not everything we do has imports are a national and he has separately
with Trump voters they focus on "getting bills to be legislative. Part of security threat. It's not just offered a bill that would
need in midterm elections. passed." And the second- this job is persuasion," said Trump, the senators say, but reverse the steel and
Senate Majority Leader ranking Republican, Sen. Cornyn. He said lawmakers past administrations that aluminum tariffs, with
Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., John Cornyn of Texas, said would "continue to make have leaned too heavily support from Democratic
indicated he was not he hoped Republicans the case" with the president into the national security Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of
interested in spending concerned about the and his staff, which he provision they now want North Dakota.
too much time on the tariffs could prevail on the noted is divided. to subject to congressional Farm-state senators are
effort presented behind president to reverse course. Trump took office promising oversight. particularly concerned
closed doors Tuesday He was heading to the to rip up trade deals and "When you can just name about retaliatory tariffs that
by its chief proponent, White House later Tuesday crack down on unfair anything as a national would close off foreign
trading practices. But that security issue then basically markets to pork and key
campaign slogan is at you undermine the whole crops like soybeans and
odds with Republicans' trade agreement process," corn. "It isn't as if the dog
longstanding preference Corker said Tuesday. has not barked," said Sen.
Paradise in the Caribbean for free markets and open Corker's trying to hitch the Pat Roberts, R-Kan., the
trade. The standoff is legislation to a big annual chairman of the Senate
raising an uncomfortable defense bill making its way Agriculture Committee.
question: If Republicans through the Senate that But it's unclear what
can't confront Trump on includes must-pass pay lawmakers are willing to do
trade, can they challenge raises for the troops and besides bark. Challenging
him on anything? other provisions. Trump comes with its own
"For Republicans, this is who Senate Republicans have risks, from alienating his
we are," said Sen. Jeff Flake, warned administration supporters to taking voters'
R-Ariz. "If we believe our officials that the tariffs could attention off a healthy
own rhetoric — on trade, dampen the economic economy before the
tariffs and congressional gains from the GOP tax midterm elections, which
prerogative — I hope it cuts. will determine control of
does come to a vote." Senate Minority Leader the House and Senate.
The idea being pursued by Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Asked if Congress will act
Corker, Sen. Pat Toomey, said he spoke to Corker on trade, Sen. Roy Blunt,
R-Pa., and others who have about the legislation R-Mo., a member of GOP
been meeting privately Tuesday. "I believe there is leadership, answered
SALES OFFICE +297 2801005 info@leventaruba.com
MOBILE +297 5927275 www.leventaruba.com — and with Democrats some Democratic support simply: "No."q