WASHINGTON — Today, Ed Gresser, Vice President and Director for Trade and Global Markets at the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), issued the following statement on President Trump’s latest tariff orders — 50% on EU goods and 25% on iPhones:
“Mr. Trump’s erratic and destructive tariff campaigns show why the Constitution assigns the power over ‘Taxes, Duties, Imposts, and Excises’ to Congress rather than the president. Granting any single individual personal power to set rates for tariffs or any other tax is an open invitation to abuse of power, corruption, and impulse-driven policy decisions.
“This morning’s outbursts underline the Constitution’s wisdom. Mr. Trump’s tariff program has already done immense harm to the American economy, and to those of America’s neighbors and allies. As his February 1 and April 2 decrees did, this morning’s threat of a 50% tariff on European goods will raise the cost of living for American families, damage American industry and agriculture through higher costs and lost export markets, and further corrode prospects for growth and macroeconomic stability for the United States and its European allies and friends. His accompanying attempt to personally micromanage smartphone assembly is as destructive as it is ludicrous. And both are powerful and unfortunate reminders to foreign governments considering trade talks with the U.S. of the personalization and instability of this administration’s agreements and policies.
“The bright spot: Congress can act. Lawmakers have a constitutional duty to check this overreach. Recent resolutions from Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Ron Paul (R-Ky.), and a bill by Rep. Linda Sánchez and Ways and Means Democrats, would terminate Trump’s February and April tariffs, and restore Congress’ Constitutional authority over the tariff system. It is time for Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator John Thune to join in these efforts to ‘support and defend the Constitution,’ halt the economic harm, and reaffirm the separation of powers.”
“On January 12, the week before the inauguration in January, PPI 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.”
Founded in 1989, PPI is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Find an expert and learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org. Follow us @PPI.
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Media Contact: Ian O’Keefe – iokeefe@ppionline.org
