I am just so done with the constant back-and-forth on tariffs, it’s like, can’t we all just get along? Markets are tumbling, financial sector leaders are freaking out, and our allies are all like “um, what’s going on?” – all because of President Trump’s latest tariff announcement.
And now, some House Republican (I’m looking at you, Rep. Don Bacon) is trying to introduce legislation to limit the White House’s ability to impose tariffs without Congress’ approval – because, you know, that’s not already a thing. I mean, didn’t we establish that the Constitution gives Congress the power over taxes and tariffs? Or did I just imagine that? Anyway, Bacon’s all like “I have beginning support” for his bill, which is just a nice way of saying “I’m not entirely sure if anyone else is on board with this yet”.
But, hey, at least he’s trying, right? I mean, it’s not like he’s just introducing this legislation as a way to distract us from the fact that the Senate already introduced a similar bill – oh wait, that’s exactly what’s happening. And, by the way, have you seen the books on trade policy that are out there? I mean, it’s like, there are so many experts who have written about this stuff, can’t we just listen to them for once?
So, the Senate bill (which, might I add, has the support of seven whole GOP senators – wow, that’s a lot) would require the president to inform Congress of their intent to impose new tariffs within 48 hours, along with some reasoning and analysis on the potential impact. And then Congress would have 60 days to pass a joint resolution approving the move, or else the new fee would expire – simple enough, right? But, of course, it’s not that simple, because we have to consider the national emergency that Trump declared, and how that factors into all of this.
And, let’s be real, the courts are probably going to have to weigh in on this whole thing anyway, because that’s just how it goes. I mean, Rep. Bacon said it himself – the courts will have to decide whether Trump’s tariffs are really an emergency or just a total change in tariff policy (spoiler alert: it’s probably the latter). But, hey, at least we have some bipartisan support for this legislation, right? I mean, some GOP senators are even supporting a resolution to undermine Trump’s tariffs – that’s like, a miracle or something.
But, in all seriousness, this legislation has a long way to go before it becomes a reality – I mean, it’s got to pass the House and the Senate, and then get signed into law (or not vetoed, rather). And, let’s be real, the House is going to be a tough sell, what with the slim Republican majority and all. But, Bacon’s all like “if we continue to see the stock market go a certain direction or if we see inflation or unemployment shift in a bad way, I think then this bill becomes a very viable bill” – which is just a nice way of saying “we’ll see what happens, I guess”.
And, finally, I just want to say that I’m so over this whole tariff thing – can’t we just focus on something else for once? Like, I don’t know, economic policy or something? But, no, instead we’re stuck talking about tariffs and trade wars and all that jazz. Anyway, that’s my two cents on the whole thing – take it for what it’s worth (which, let’s be real, is probably not much).