Doesn't the power to impose tariffs belong to Congress?

[Anonymous]

I don't understand how Trump can wave his MAGA hat and impose tariffs unilaterally. Doesn't Congress impose tariffs--on goods, not entire countries? Negotiated tariffs on Canadian salmon and lumber, imposed gradually.
Please explain this to me as if I'm five.

[Anonymous]

You are correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how Trump can wave his MAGA hat and impose tariffs unilaterally. Doesn't Congress impose tariffs--on goods, not entire countries? Negotiated tariffs on Canadian salmon and lumber, imposed gradually.
Please explain this to me as if I'm five.

You are correct.

[Anonymous]

There’s a provision stating a president can implement tariffs in an emergency and the felon said there was a fentanyl emergency to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada. Right now we have a 10% blanket tariff on all goods, but I’m not sure if he stated that was an emergency or just willfully broke the law. Everyone knows fentanyl is not an emergency, and thus not credible. Re China, I don’t know either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s a provision stating a president can implement tariffs in an emergency and the felon said there was a fentanyl emergency to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada. Right now we have a 10% blanket tariff on all goods, but I’m not sure if he stated that was an emergency or just willfully broke the law. Everyone knows fentanyl is not an emergency, and thus not credible. Re China, I don’t know either.

Trump said that the trade deficit is an emergency. The US has had a trade deficit for 40 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s a provision stating a president can implement tariffs in an emergency and the felon said there was a fentanyl emergency to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada. Right now we have a 10% blanket tariff on all goods, but I’m not sure if he stated that was an emergency or just willfully broke the law. Everyone knows fentanyl is not an emergency, and thus not credible. Re China, I don’t know either.

No, there isn’t actually any such provision. It only allows sanctions, not tariffs. Tariffs are fully a legislative power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a provision stating a president can implement tariffs in an emergency and the felon said there was a fentanyl emergency to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada. Right now we have a 10% blanket tariff on all goods, but I’m not sure if he stated that was an emergency or just willfully broke the law. Everyone knows fentanyl is not an emergency, and thus not credible. Re China, I don’t know either.

No, there isn’t actually any such provision. It only allows sanctions, not tariffs. Tariffs are fully a legislative power.

Wrong.

“The Constitution’s Commerce and Imposts clauses give Congress the power to impose tariffs. Congress has delegated to the executive branch the power to “take action to adjust imports” in circumstances that “threaten to impair the national security” of the United States (19 U.S.C. § 1862), and to “impose duties” or “suspend, withdraw, or prevent the application of, benefits of trade agreement concessions” in circumstances that are “unreasonable or discriminatory and burdens or restricts United States commerce” (19 U.S.C. § 2411).”

https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/are-tariffs-an-emergency-power

[Anonymous]

I’m pp and should have said the emergency had to be related to “national security.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m pp and should have said the emergency had to be related to “national security.”

Yup. Trump is trying to make trade deficits a national security emergency.

[Anonymous]

The irony is it’s causing a real national security emergency to do that to our longtime allies and be taco with China, and the threat to the economy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m pp and should have said the emergency had to be related to “national security.”

Yup. Trump is trying to make trade deficits a national security emergency.

And neither trade deficits (which are purposeful and at least until now have been regarded as relatively beneficial for us) nor fentanyl are "national security".

[Anonymous]

OP here. This helped me enormously. THANK YOU. I believe there are various lawsuits (hard to track them) challenging this "national security" crisis. I dread a terrorist attack not only because of the casualties, but because it will provide Trump with firmer grounds to declare a national emergency.