WASHINGTON — Today, Ed Gresser, Vice President and Director for Trade and Global Markets at the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), issued the following statement in response to President Trump imposing a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods:
“Mr. Trump has compiled a remarkable record over the past month: bad-faith economic assaults on America’s neighbors, deference to international aggressors, and escalating harm to the U.S., North American, and world economies. Signs of the effects are already evident in the U.S. economy, with warning lights flashing red in GDP, consumer confidence, and financial markets. Should today’s attempt to impose tariffs by decree stand, Americans can expect worse: where a few months ago Mr. Trump promised to bring costs down, families will in reality get higher costs for everything from home and auto repair to groceries, OTC medicines, and spring clothes. Meanwhile, American manufacturers, home-builders, and farmers will see production costs spike, and exporters will lose markets with Canada and China already retaliating. The national security costs are yet to be seen, but will be large.
“As harmful as these effects are, the lasting harm to American governance is likely to be even worse. One-man creation of a new tariff system is an open invitation to future corruption, as — aware they can create new tariff systems by themselves — all future presidents will face the temptation to use tariffs to punish critics and rivals and to reward supporters and cronies. And it is a grave harm to the separation of powers, as a usurpation of Congress’ Constitutional power over ‘Taxes, Duties, Imposts, and Excises,’ and substituting illegitimate rule by personal decree for actual legislation.
“House Speaker Mike Johnson, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, and their Senate counterparts, Majority Leader John Thune and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, must oppose this power grab and, per the Congressional oath of office, support and defend the Constitution by overturning Mr. Trump’s decision today.”
PPI recently outlined four key principles for responding to tariff-driven economic isolationism. Additionally, PPI has warned of the economic risks posed by Trump’s tariff policies in a recent report and detailed these concerns in testimony before Congress and in PPI’s own coverage. For further context on the Constitution over tariffs and taxation and how the legislative, not executive branch, has the authority, see the full text of the U.S. Constitution.
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Media Contact: Ian O’Keefe – iokeefe@ppionline.org
