Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) steered Congress take again its constitutional authority to impose tariffs, saying lawmakers “made a mistake” previously by more and more delegating commerce authority to the president.
In an interview Thursday on CNN’s “The Scenario Room,” Bacon reiterated his help totally free commerce and criticized President Trump’s daring method to tariffs.
He was requested what “leverage” likeminded Republicans must push Trump to “deescalate his trade war.”
“Well, in Article 1 in the Constitution, really tariffs should be a congressional initiated action. So this should come from Congress,” Bacon informed CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.
“However, I think we made a mistake in the past,” he continued. “We passed legislation that gave the president some temporary tariff authorities, and I think we should look back and maybe restore the power back to Congress and take away the authorizations that we’ve allowed the presidents.”
Bacon — considered one of solely three Home Republicans elected in districts that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 — famous that the difficulty doesn’t simply apply to Trump, however to previous presidents, together with Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
“This power should reside in the House and the Senate,” he added. “We have the power of the purse, and so I think we should restore these authorities back to the House.”
Trump on Wednesday introduced 25 % tariffs on foreign-made car imports — his newest escalation of his commerce struggle towards different nations. He mentioned the tariffs would take impact April 2 and apply to “all cars not made in the United States.”
Components made in America wouldn’t be topic to the tariffs, however many U.S.-made vehicles are constructed with components that cross the U.S. border a number of occasions earlier than finally getting assembled.
Trump argued the tariffs would encourage overseas automotive producers to maneuver manufacturing into the US and would enhance jobs in the long term. However the tariffs might result in greater costs for vehicles within the meantime, because it might enhance the fee for producers to usher in sure components.
“For the most part, I think it’s going to lead cars to be made in one location,” Trump mentioned Wednesday.
Bacon mentioned he helps reciprocal tariffs however that Trump’s method to tariffs will harm customers.
“Obviously, President Trump likes tariffs. He thinks he can negotiate by using tariffs and uses leverage against various countries. I don’t mind reciprocal tariffs. If somebody’s charging us a tariff, it should be fair. But, by and large, free trade should be the goal,” Bacon mentioned.
“It’s the best for the consumer. So when you have free trade, you’re giving the best products at the best price, the most efficient as most efficient manner possible. That’s what free trade … offers,” he continued. “Tariffs in the end, hurt consumers. So, Wolf, I support reciprocal tariffs, but we are better off if we have free trade.”
