Senators warn Trump, but Trump won’t listen.
Republican Senators Try to Curb Tariffs
Color it hopeless, but Republican Senators Try to Curb Influence of Trump Tariff Hawk
President Trump has peppered the first month of his presidency with trade actions even before the bulk of his trade team is in place.
U.S. Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer still doesn’t have a slot for a confirmation vote before the full Senate. Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick, who Trump has said will lead the trade agenda, is likely to be confirmed this week, but likewise hasn’t been in office for the major trade decisions so far.
In their absence, a singular figure has risen as a leader of the trade agenda: Peter Navarro, the president’s special counselor on trade and manufacturing, known for his pugnacious personality and maximalist approach to tariffs.
The influence of Navarro, one of a few of Trump’s first-term inner circle returning for a second run, is causing some consternation on Capitol Hill, especially among Republicans with agriculture or manufacturing in their states. They have expressed concern about the White House’s no-exceptions approach to tariffs and how that approach might spark inflation and retaliation from other countries.
“That’s why we gotta get Greer confirmed,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.), when asked about Navarro’s influence on recent trade actions.
Tillis has been more out front than many GOP senators in criticizing Trump’s team, raising concerns about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth before eventually voting to confirm him. But several other Republican senators expressed anxiety over the maximalism of Trump’s early tariff actions when asked about Navarro, even if they wouldn’t mention his role outright.
In particular, GOP senators worried about Trump’s decision not to include a carve-out process for the steel and aluminum tariffs, which would allow companies to apply for exemptions from the duties.
“Even the president has admitted there’s going to be pain [from tariffs], and I think in Wisconsin we’re going to have a lot of people experiencing that pain,” said Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.), who said he expressed his misgivings to Trump’s former trade chief, Robert Lighthizer, when he spoke to a Senate GOP lunch last week.
“I’m hoping the administration is going to be sensitive to that and help alleviate that,” Johnson said, noting that Greer is a Lighthizer acolyte who served as his chief of staff throughout the first term.
Few, if any, GOP lawmakers expect Greer to shy away from protectionist stances, but they hope he will follow Lighthizer in injecting some legal and economic nuance into the policies.
Many also hope that Greer and Lutnick will be more sympathetic to their concerns than Navarro. North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer, a close Trump ally, said he still has “PTSD” from a meeting when he was a House member in Trump’s first term, during which several GOP caucus members stormed out because Navarro “clearly wasn’t listening” to their concerns.
Cramer, like other GOP skeptics of Navarro, said he hopes Greer and Lutnick can inject some limitations into future trade actions, such as exemptions. “I think that’s why he was chosen,” Cramer said of the USTR nominee, adding that he doesn’t yet have “that much heartburn” about Navarro.
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, one of the few avowed free traders left in the GOP senate caucus, was hesitant to lay the blame at Navarro’s feet, arguing that the president himself is a tariff maximalist. “In my state, farmers say that tariffs hurt them, and they’re still hurting them from the tariffs on China back in 2018,” he said.
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R., Tenn.), a big Trump ally, said many companies will soon be clamoring for carve-outs from the tariffs.
But Hagerty and other Trump allies said the potential collateral damage from tariffs is taking a back seat to the president’s desire to move quickly on tariffs and reshape global trading relationships.
“He’s impatient about wanting to get these things addressed,” Hagerty said.
Five Tariff-Cautious Republican Senators
- Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.)
- Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.)
- Sen. Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.)
- Sen. Bill Hagerty (R., Tenn.)
- Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.)
If trade wars were good and easy to win, as Trump proclaimed in 2018, there would not be a need to escalate trade wars now.
But here we are.
Related Posts
March 2, 2018: Trump Tweets “Trade Wars are Good and Easy to Win”
October 7, 2020: 3,500 Corporations So Fed Up With Trump’s Tariffs They Sue the US
January 12, 2025: Trump’s New Tariff Advisor and Advice for Advisors
January 29, 2025: Trump Announces New Tariffs on Computer Chips and Semiconductors
February 1, 2025: Welcome to the Dumbest Trade War in US History, What’s Next?
February 8, 2025: Ford CEO Warns Automakers Could Lose Billions if Tariffs Take Effect
February 10, 2025: Trump to Impose 25 Percent Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum, Expect Higher Prices
Trump backed down on USMCA tariffs, then again on his announced reciprocal tariffs.
For discussion, please see Trump Fails to Pull the Trigger on Reciprocal Tariffs, Will Study the Issue
Study Until April 1
Trump will study the issue until April 1. So tariffs are delayed for a minimum of 46 days.
That post was on February 13, so only 30 days before we find out now.
I might soften my support of tariffs if they exclude raw materials and natural resources. The West has a strong addiction to a global labor arbitrage. As with any addiction, recovery involves pain over time. In the end the addict is better off.
What is wrong with reciprocal tariffs? That is what Trump has committed to.
It’s a well-known fact that the EU charges a lower average tariff on US imports than the US charges on its imports from the EU. Is Trump therefore going to cut US tariffs on imports from the EU? Of course not. He uses tariffs like Roman emperors used circus events to pretend he cares about his downtrodden MAGA voters. All that MAGA voters will get out of Trump’s tariff circus is higher prices at Walmart.
I love it when conversations start out with “it’s a well-known fact” followed by no citation. Here’s an article that I found from ING about tariffs, and you appear to be wrong. https://think.ing.com/articles/eu-us-trade-strategy/#a2
The EU charges much high tariffs on US cars, agriculture, and food. The tariffs on food are understandable, given our additional chemicals and genetic modifications. Hopefully, RFK will fix that.
A 25% tariff on Canadian autos would disrupt the USMCA and would probably be very damaging to US auto manufacturers. Unfortunately, for Michigan, both its senators are Democrats. The current rate charged by the US and Canada on auto imports from the other country is zero.
I’m not sure that tariffs on Canada will be
Implemented. However, they are justified, because Canada allows the Chinese to trans-ship Chinese goods through Canada, thus avoiding US tariffs. The Canadians are playing a dangerous game. I hope that the post Trudeau government stops allowing this.
How about some proof of that claim? People here keep saying it like it’s true. But I can never find any proof.
I look forward to seeing your proof. Thanks in advance.
https://techdinamics.com/blog-tech/navigating-trade-chinas-tariff-avoidance
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/chinas-backdoor-entry-north-america-sharad-gupta-tw4vc/
I think that it’s a much bigger issue with Mexico. Canada has taken action to clamp down on the transshipment of Chinese goods to the U.S., hopefully enough to forestall the tariffs. I did read that a politician in Canada said that Mexico should be kicked out of the USMCA for its egregious behavior with respect to this issue. So, I believe that you are more right than me. Thanks.
The USMCA already provides for 0% tariffs on imports on autos from the US into Canada? So how would a 25% on autos imported from Canada to the US be justified? Trump’s proposals would be very disruptive to trade between the two countries and very damaging to GM and Ford and the Michigan economy.
Why tie beneficial trade treatment for you citizens to the stupidity of foreigners? A true America-first tariff policy would be to impose maximum tariffs of 2% or less and let the morons abroad subsidize US consumers and import-consuming industries. Unless you think that things like spending $800K per $150K per year steelworker job via steel tariffs is actually a smart way to spend the hard earned dollars of US taxpayers.
I think that it is your rationale that caused our defense industry to become almost completely beholden to Chinese manufacturers.
https://thehill.com/opinion/5090860-us-china-trade-war-impact/
We have to move manufacturing back to the U.S. It will be inflationary, but it’s a national security issue on several fronts.
So is this “Thom Tillis” causing all the noise? The “Same” Thom that had His Own Party in NC “Formally Censure Him? That Thom, and the same Tillis that supported “LGBTQ+ Rights”? That Thom? Did he by chance vote for open immigration too? He may be a RINO, JS…
We are also hearing cry’s for “Carve Outs” as expected. Trump told Everybody that Everyone will feel some pain, before we get ourselves back on track, as a lot of damage has been done. They need to sit down and listen to “The Direction” that the party is heading in, or get out of the way.
You’re going to have to share in the short term pain. If he’s wrong, they will adjust accordingly, but Trump isn’t in a vacuum changing these things. The MSM might want you to buy that BS, but this is all being done by “Teams of People”
– Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, one of the few avowed free traders left in the GOP senate caucus, said “In my state, farmers say that tariffs hurt them, and they’re still hurting them from the tariffs on China back in 2018,” he said.
> There will obviously be carve outs, but ONLY where they make total sense. This may be one of those examples?
– But here we are.
> Exactly where we knew we would be. Trying to Fix one hell of a mess, that was created and thrust upon the American People blindly, and with bad intentions. This is going to take time, and pain before we come out on the other side. It’s unfortunately not as if we have a choice, so “Let’s Just Get It Done”
With a LOUD CHORUS of: “INFLATION!” – – the idiot is simply going to exacerbate the problems for the Common man in feeding a family of four even making it solo.
Income inequality also adds to the problems. TRUMP is in his “elitist” bubble and has never felt the bite of trying to feed a family and to pay the additional inflated costs for Health/Home/Auto and other insurance premiums which are ALL mandatory to get by.
America has created for itself a PERFECT STORM of insanity. Trump is not helping. AND, no I DO NOT VOTE because Politicians all lie/cheat/steal as a JOB.
– With a LOUD CHORUS of: “INFLATION!” –
> He is trying to alleviate that. We will have “Pain before Gain” without question. Changes are being made every day to address this, but again, it takes time for the markets to catch up.
– Income inequality also adds to the problems.
> He is also addressing this in a big way. Have you seen DC’s Homes being placed on the market. There are so many people selling, that the prices have dropped a lot, due to so many being up for sale. It’s crazy, but a sure sign, that what your asking for, is being addressed.
– TRUMP is in his “elitist” bubble.
> You couldn’t be further from the truth… Trump Is & Has Been “The Whipping Boy” for the Democrat Party AND The MSM going on 10 years or more!! He is about as far away from being in a bubble, as you could be. He is harassed constantly, lied about, abused, unfairly charged ETC. Most would have folded up the tent and scurried away for the exits, AND stayed in there bubble, BUT NOT Trump!!
– America has created for itself a PERFECT STORM of insanity. Trump is not helping.
> You meant to truthfully say, I think, “Democrats” have created for “American Citizens” a PERFECT STORM of insanity.
THAT I would Agree with!
When the common man and woman are willing to vote against their self-interest, and will never admit making an error, you can grift your voters pretty hard. We’re seeing a demonstration of that every day. They’ll take more abuse than we would guess.
Right on comments.
How about just banning all imports.
No messy tariff wars, plus all the benefits.
The US would have a trade surplus tomorrow, and would be fully autoarchic.
Wouldn’t you miss that Chinese shit and the banana’s and other imported food stuffs from nearby trading Partners.
Would’t you miss that Oil from Mexico and Canada.
I know: you were being a smart ass.
He is not being a “smart ass”. It is clled “reductio ad absurdum” and it is a very logical good point. If restricting trade via tariffs makes America richer on net, then a full shut off of trade would make America the richest!
Sounds great, but our military would fall apart, because we rely on China for thousands of components to our weapons systems. Whoever got us into this position should be arrested for treason.
Plastic Chinese landfill fodder keeps the serfs docile.
Lisa from 2018 is a failed dems caricaturist.
If she is so failed, why do you even know who she is? Methinks the man doth protest too much
Trump needs tariffs bc on Mar 14 Hakeem the regime change will shut the gov down. Trump might trim the obese gov by 25% in order to regain health and to be immune from dems fungi and bacteria.
If the Fed will cut rates wall street will celebrate.
Adjusting the bookkeeping on America’s gold reserves could add $750 billion to the U.S. Treasury overnight—but one expert says cashing out could trigger an ‘Armageddon’ event and tank the market https://archive.ph/X1LHE
The tariff shit show is just for entertaining the MAGA crowd. Trump by now knows that half of the earnings of S&P companies, and even more than half of the earnings of the tech bro companies, come from abroad. When it comes to choose between MAGA and the billionaires, Trump will side with the billionaires. After all, he is one of them.
You were down-voted telling the truths of the matter. Come on you PARTISAN VOTERS: wake the F UP! These political animals do not REPRESENT YOUR INTERESTS!
Too late. They belong to me now.
I’m sure it’s more than just 5 senators.
Michigan (and America) is about to lose their tourism for the summer and that’s going to hurt bigly to the tune of $19 billion.
https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/us-tariffs-spark-devastating-canadian-travel-boycott-threatening-michigans-tourism-industry/
Instacart just delivered a fresh case of popcorn. Better stock up now guys, it’s gonna git good.
Well, the FED seems to think business as usual despite any Trump tariffs.
How does adding tariffs to a price result in “nonpersistent” price increases that will allow inflation to decline and therefore interest rates also? I’m calling BS.
Just like in the 30’s with Smoot Hawley ?
‘Twas ‘39 before the music started…
Guess we’ll find out soon what a truly libertarian deregulated every-man-for-himself economy is like to live in. As long as you don’t fly, eat, drink water or worry about nuclear bombs accidentally going off everything will be great I’m sure!
oh no… regulations on little people aren’t going anywhere.
At this point we are waiting for 17-20 Repub senators to decide that they have finally had enough, and they convict and remove. Nothing else is going to stop this proto-dictator.
If they do, 10 million will change their outlook. Pocket change. In a few months, they won’t matter at all.
Maybe your side will prevail with its court cases.
Dictators dont care about inflation, civil unrest and they especially dont care about courts.
Dictator, schmictator. You’re overwrought.
And youre melting. 🙂 And disappearing.
Trump is actively using courts to cow and stop news stories and sources. He disregards them, except when he uses them prolifically, thousands of times. See the book Plaintiff in Chief. He was also a pioneer in using NDAs to control his public story (before they became normalized across the USA), which requires the backing of courts. “Catch and kill” for his scandalous stories via handy friends in the press was also an interesting maneuver, until it didn’t work. The courts are useful and may be used by such a figure.
Under what charge?
Then Vance takes over. You’ve heard his speeches. You think he’ll be any different?
Nope which is why everyone needs an exit strategy….
He belongs to Peter, not me.
That is the Democrat Party propaganda narrative these days. Seems the Democrats should be calling for legislation to root out the corruption in USAID and other agencies.
Being in the Autumn of life, my observation is that TR was on to something: “When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer ‘Present’ or ‘Not guilty.”
Theodore Roosevelt
Very good!
Analysis-As Trump shakes Justice Department, deeply conservative prosecutors head for exitshttps://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/ar-AA1z6vGG
How dare the DOJ not prosecute Eric Adams to the fullest? Who does he think he is – Hunter Biden?
Hunter Biden was never governor of anything. Hunter was a bit player and perhaps a siphon for corrupt money. This is NYC and hugely implicates legitimacy publicly. This is a scumbag (allegedly, right) at Grand Central Station trading favors. There might be a bipartisan and systemic rot, yes, and the real point is, in all cases it is being noticed which means maybe corrected. That’s how the press is supposed to work, and has. But Biden wasn’t suing every news source to cow them and shut them down.
The MSM is partisan Democrat, so yes, Biden wouldn’t have been suing them to cow them. That is not how the press is supposed to work. Leslie Stahl was not supposed front for Biden and tell Trump the Hunter laptop couldn’t be confirmed, “because it can’t”, when Bobolinski had already confirmed some of the material on the laptop. That’s election interference.