U.S. Senators Propose Tariff Bill Based on Section 232

The recently introduced bill (S. 3013) will give legislators the final say on the introduction of tariffs under Article 232.

The Trump administration imposed a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports, arguing that the levy was necessary for national security purposes and thus permitted under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation on June 6 that would require congressional approval to impose section 232 tariffs.

“While we all agree on the need to ensure the fairness of the international trading system for American workers, companies and consumers, the administration is abusing the powers of Article 232 delegated to the President by Congress,” said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker.

"The call for national security should not justify what is inherently an economic issue, and not only hurts the people we all want to help, but can also worsen relations with our allies, but it can also motivate our competitors to retaliate." ...