Wyden: Trump Tax Hurting The American People

Earlier this week, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden took to the Senate floor to call for passage of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes on Imported Goods Act.   Wyden said the legislation clarifies that that the President’s emergency powers can’t be used levy tariffs.

“Donald Trump calls himself a “tariff man”, his words, not mine.  And he’s exactly right. It’s the only answer he has to any problem. Instead of taking time to think through actual solutions, he’s willing to use any authority he can find to slap tariffs on our trading partners,” Wyden said.  

Wyden added the 25% tariffs issued against Canada and Mexico will raise the costs for Americans on gasoline, fruits, vegetables and a hos of other products.  Wyden said this week’s tariffs will also costs American jobs, with Canada and Mexico announcing plans to retaliate.  Oregon’s senior senator added the President is “going rogue” and using emergency powers to pursue tariffs.

“The American people voted for lower, not high prices. Donald Trump campaigned on the promise that he would lower costs on day one of his presidency. But just over a month in, all Trump has managed to do is gut the agencies in charge of protecting consumers and going after predatory corporations, and land us in trade wars that will drive up the cost of goods people use every day.”

Wyden also called the tariffs a Trump Tax, noting that the wealthiest Americans will not feel the effects.  The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes on Imported Goods Act failed to get the needed support in the Senate this week.

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