House Dems threaten to block Trump’s big tariff plans: ‘Unacceptable’
House Democrats are rallying to block President-elect Donald Trump from enacting his ambitious tariff plans just days before his inauguration. Led by Reps. Suzan DelBene of Washington and Don Beyer of Virginia, along with support from 11 other Democrats, a new bill aims to prevent Trump from using emergency powers to impose higher import taxes.
Throughout his campaign, Trump vowed to impose a 60% tariff on goods from China and up to 20% on products from other trading partners of the United States. He recently announced plans to establish an “External Revenue Service” to oversee the collection of tariffs, duties, and other revenue from foreign sources.
Proponents of Trump’s tariff proposals, including Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent, argue that these measures would boost American manufacturing and hinder countries like China from relying on exports to prop up their economies. Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the president can theoretically bypass Congress to implement broad tariffs in the event of an emergency.
However, Democrats are concerned that the cost of these tariffs would be passed on to American consumers, leading to higher prices and potentially triggering a recession. Rep. DelBene stated, “Not only would widespread tariffs drive up costs at home and likely send our economy into recession, but they would likely lead to significant retaliation, hurting American workers, farmers, and businesses.”
Rep. Beyer added, “Trump’s tariff proposals would misuse emergency authorities to raise prices on the American people, which is unacceptable.” In contrast, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, known for his moderate stance, introduced a bill proposing a universal 10% tariff on all imports, with annual adjustments based on economic conditions.
Golden explained that his tariff plan, combined with other policies supporting domestic energy production, unions, and manufacturing, aims to shift the focus of the economy from consumption of cheap goods to production and innovation. While some Democrats support this approach, others, like DelBene and Beyer, are pushing back against Trump’s tariff agenda.
As the debate over tariffs unfolds, it remains to be seen how the incoming administration will address these conflicting viewpoints. Fox News Digital reached out to the Trump transition team for their response to the proposed bills and their potential impact on the economy.
Overall, the clash between House Democrats and the Trump administration underscores the complex challenges of trade policy in a globalized economy. The outcome of these legislative battles could have far-reaching implications for American businesses, workers, and consumers.
