TRUMP’S TYRANNICAL TARIFFS (SENATE VOTES TODAY)
QUICK READ: Donald Trump is drunk on power and unleashing economic chaos on the US and the world. His illegal use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose shifting tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, based on a fabricated national emergency, must be blocked, and Congress must reassert its power over trade policy.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
President Trump loves tariffs—to spur manufacturing, create jobs, and bend uncooperative governments to his will. April 2, dubbed “Liberation Day,” is when he’ll unveil his trade war’s next phase.
While he campaigned on lowering prices and “fixing” the economy, his rapidly changing tariffs and trade war threats are already pushing inflation upward, hurting consumers, farmers, and businesses, and moving us towards recession and possibly stagflation
Import taxes passed on to consumers will greatly increase prices for autos, groceries, housing, and other goods and could end up costing the average household $1250+/year, causing the loss of 309,000+ full-time jobs, and shrinking retirement benefits
Everyone who eats will pay for Trump’s trade wars—shortages and rising food prices, less healthy diets—but the 18 million households already struggling with food insecurity will suffer more.
As with other Trump initiatives, he had no authority to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—which was repeatedly used to impose economic sanctions, but never tariffs, on foreign countries’—because fentanyl entering the United States was not an “unusual or extraordinary” foreign threat to America’s “national security, foreign policy, or economy” that would justify invoking it.
Moreover, since Trump’s stated justification for the tariffs—boosting manufacturing, raising revenue, restoring America’s trade balance—had nothing to do with the supposed national emergency, IEEPA powers were unavailable.
It is time for Congress to take back its control of trade policy.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump’s ever-changing, illegal tariffs, which threatens to spark trade wars, are already playing havoc with our economy and the lives of middle- and lower-income Americans—which will get even worse if retaliatory tariffs are imposed. No president should be able to increase taxes on American families and businesses without a vote in Congress. While I applaud the resolution aimed at blocking Trump from using the IEEPA to impose tariffs on Canada, and expect you to support it, you need to show the American people you are fighting for them by explicitly excluding tariffs from the permissible exercises of power under the IEPPA and by taking back Congress’ control over trade policy.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump’s ever-changing, illegal tariffs, which threatens to spark trade wars, are already playing havoc with our economy and the lives of middle- and lower-income Americans—which will get even worse if retaliatory tariffs are imposed. No president should be able to increase taxes on American families and businesses without a vote in Congress. While I applaud the resolution aimed at blocking Trump from using the IEEPA to impose tariffs on Canada, and expect you to support it, you need to show the American people you are fighting for them by explicitly excluding tariffs from the permissible exercises of power under the IEPPA and by taking back Congress’ control over trade policy.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Trump’s ever-changing, illegal tariffs, which threatens to spark trade wars, are already playing havoc with our economy and the lives of middle- and lower-income Americans—which will get even worse if retaliatory tariffs are imposed. No president should be able to increase taxes on American families and businesses without a vote in Congress. While I applaud the resolution aimed at blocking Trump from using the IEEPA to impose tariffs on Canada, and expect you to support it, you need to show the American people you are fighting for them by explicitly excluding tariffs from the permissible exercises of power under the IEPPA and by taking back Congress’ control over trade policy.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump’s ever-changing, illegal tariffs are already playing havoc with our economy and the lives of middle- and lower-income Americans—which will get much worse if retaliatory tariffs are imposed. Since no president should be able to increase taxes on American families and businesses without a vote in Congress, I need you show the American people you are fighting for them by explicitly excluding tariffs from the permissible exercises of power under the IEPPA and by taking back Congress’ control over trade policy.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump’s ever-changing, illegal tariffs are already playing havoc with our economy and the lives of middle- and lower-income Americans—which will get much worse if retaliatory tariffs are imposed. Since no president should be able to increase taxes on American families and businesses without a vote in Congress, I need you show the American people you are fighting for them by explicitly excluding tariffs from the permissible exercises of power under the IEPPA and by taking back Congress’ control over trade policy.
Script for Maxine Dexter (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump’s ever-changing, illegal tariffs are already playing havoc with our economy and the lives of middle- and lower-income Americans—which will get much worse if retaliatory tariffs are imposed. Since no president should be able to increase taxes on American families and businesses without a vote in Congress, I need you show the American people you are fighting for them by explicitly excluding tariffs from the permissible exercises of power under the IEPPA and by taking back Congress’ control over trade policy.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump’s ever-changing, illegal tariffs are already playing havoc with our economy and the lives of middle- and lower-income Americans—which will get much worse if retaliatory tariffs are imposed. Since no president should be able to increase taxes on American families and businesses without a vote in Congress, I need you show the American people you are fighting for them by explicitly excluding tariffs from the permissible exercises of power under the IEPPA and by taking back Congress’ control over trade policy.
SCRIPT FOR Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump’s ever-changing, illegal tariffs are already playing havoc with our economy and the lives of middle- and lower-income Americans—which will get much worse if retaliatory tariffs are imposed. Since no president should be able to increase taxes on American families and businesses without a vote in Congress, I need you show the American people you are fighting for them by explicitly excluding tariffs from the permissible exercises of power under the IEPPA and by taking back Congress’ control over trade policy.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump’s ever-changing, illegal tariffs are already playing havoc with our economy and the lives of middle- and lower-income Americans—which will get much worse if retaliatory tariffs are imposed. Since no president should be able to increase taxes on American families and businesses without a vote in Congress, I need you show the American people you are fighting for them by explicitly excluding tariffs from the permissible exercises of power under the IEPPA and by taking back Congress’ control over trade policy.
FURTHER READING
Trump’s promised ‘Liberation Day’ of tariffs is coming. Here’s what it could mean for you
Trump’s “Liberation Day” is set to whack America’s economy
Trump’s tariffs and trade wars threaten our food security
Trump’s Tariffs Are Illegal, but That Won’t Matter
Trump’s Use of Emergency Powers to Impose Tariffs Is an Abuse of Power
Wall Street Journal: ‘Someone should sue’ Trump over tariffs
