U.S. Senate Rebuke Trump for Article 232 Tariffs

The US Senate passed Bill 88-11, which asks President Donald Trump to increase the Senate’s role in discussing tariffs as part of national security standards, but the bill is seen largely as a symbolic measure.

The bill is non-binding and must first be passed by the U.S. House of Representatives before going to President Trump to sign the law. Since President Trump is likely to veto such a measure, he will have to return to Congress to collect 2/3 of the votes of both houses in order to reverse the veto.

“There is no doubt that Congress has the oversight authority. But it's a little ironic that the GOP-led Congress wants to take advantage of that power now after essentially sitting in for years, during which unfair trade and rising steel and aluminum imports have devastated American industries and destroyed jobs. " the USW said in a statement. “Steps are now being taken to ensure that the United States maintains sufficient steel and aluminum production to protect national security. Billions of dollars in new investment and tens of thousands of jobs have already been put in place since the start of Section 232 studies, but be careful not to jeopardize national security, push those investments, and throw thousands of workers into unemployment lines. ”

232 created strange associates both in and outside Congress. Congressional Republicans - President Trump's party - are highly critical of his protectionist policies, while usually stalwart democratic institutions like the United Steelworkers have lent their backing to Article 232 initiatives.