Shapiro Hails Senate Trade Bill as 'Tool' to Fight Trump’s ‘Failing Tariff Strategy’

CTA views the Trade Security Act introduced last month in the Senate as a "tool" to fight President Donald Trump’s “failing tariff strategy,” said CEO Gary Shapiro Wednesday. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, introduced S-3329 with three co-sponsors to boost congressional oversight of the Trade Expansion Act Section 232 tariff process and require the Defense Department rather than the commerce secretary to justify Section 232 duties on national-security grounds. Congress has “limited tools” to dispute Trump's “unfounded” national-security claims as the basis to levy Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum “that are hurting American business and consumers,” said Shapiro. Portman is “uniquely qualified” as a former U.S. trade representative “to address targeted reforms that set clear guidelines on the president's misuse of his authority pertaining to trade," said Shapiro. Portman was USTR for a year beginning in May 2005 under President George W. Bush.