Business Groups Ask Senate to Back Bill Constraining Trump on Tariffs

Vote for a bill from Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., that would amend a 1962 law to constrain President Donald Trump’s ability to impose Trade Expansion Act Section 232 tariffs, more than 60 national business groups and more than 200 local chambers of commerce and similar organizations urged the Senate in a Tuesday letter. Though the president should retain the authority to impose tariffs on national security grounds, “the current circumstances highlight the need for Congress to ensure that the authority will be used, as intended by the Congress, in the overall national interest," it said. Among signers were the Computer & Communications Industry Association, Internet Association and National Retail Federation. S-3013 "is designed to accomplish this limited objective. The President will retain the power to impose tariffs to protect the national security subject only to confirmation by the Congress that the power is being properly used," the letter said. CTA didn’t comment on why it didn’t sign.