Trump's Canada tariffs may be Democrats' first legislative target after midterm success - report
Oregon’s Senator Ron Wyden stated that there is “overwhelming support” for the repeal of the tariffs and that he had already begun discussing legislative strategy with his Democratic colleagues.
In a Wall Street Journal report on Thursday, it was revealed that the newly-elected Democratic majority in the US Congress may have US President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada as its first legislative target following their success in the midterm elections. These tariffs were imposed in August when trade talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney broke down, leading to tensions between the neighboring countries.
The Democratic majority will not take office until January 2027, but some elected Democrats have already hinted at discussions about rolling back the tariffs. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden stated that there is "overwhelming support" for the repeal of tariffs and that he has started discussing legislative strategy with his Democratic colleagues.
Wyden, who will gain control of the Senate Finance Committee in January, believes that the tariffs are unpopular among some Republicans, providing an opportunity to flip members of Trump's party and build enough support to overturn or avoid a potential veto on anti-tariff measures.
Legislation targeting the Canada tariffs may be the first action taken by the Democrats against Trump's trade measures. Capitol Hill sources suggested that additional actions could include challenging Trump's use of presidential authorities to impose the tariffs and previous temporary tariffs, as well as contesting the legitimacy of specific sections of the Tariff Act of 1930 and the Trade Act of 1974.
However, some close to Trump expressed doubts about the Democrats' ability to force the changes they seek. They argued that while the power to impose tariffs lies largely in the president's authority, Trump may not yield to the pressure exerted by Congress. Throughout previous administrations, Congress has ceded constitutional authority over trade, giving the executive branch more power to enact economic measures if the president perceives that other countries are discriminating against US companies or threaten national security.
Despite the Democrats' determination to counteract Trump's trade policies, insiders close to Congress indicated that lawmakers' capacity to challenge presidential authority could be limited as long as Trump remains in office.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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