A GOP “rebellion” against President Donald Trump’s tariffs appears imminent, Punchbowl News reported Tuesday, with a handful of House Republicans telling the outlet that they’re ready to challenge the president’s signature trade policy by the day’s end on the House floor.
“American consumers pay the tariffs and thus it is a big tax,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), speaking with Punchbowl News. “I support giving these authorities back to Congress.”
Up for a vote on the House floor Tuesday is a measure that would extend a procedural rule that prohibits lawmakers from legislatively challenging Trump’s tariffs. That would extend the ban through August, but a growing number of Republicans now say they intend on voting against it.
“I made it clear that I’m not in favor of that,” said Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), speaking with Punchbowl News.
While Congress historically holds the authority to impose tariffs, Trump imposed his tariffs under a novel reading of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a 1977 law that grants the president the authority to impose tariffs in response to emergencies, with the White House claiming the United States’ trade deficits to be the emergency in question.
Legislative challenges to Trump’s tariffs have thus far been held off thanks to the procedural measure that will be up for renewal Tuesday, one that’s been aggressively advocated for by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), but based on the growing GOP dissent, that very well could come to an end.
Assuming a full attendance in the House Tuesday, only two Republican House defections would be required to overturn the ban, Punchbowl News reported.
The Supreme Court continues to hear arguments for and against Trump’s tariff authority, though a majority of justices have expressed skepticism at the Trump administration’s arguments. Should the court ultimately strike down Trump’s tariff authority, the president has warned that the United States “could be reduced to almost Third World status.”
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