Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican of Nevada, says he believes Congress has made a “mistake” in giving the president customs authority and wants to see me get it back.
“In Article 1 of the Constitution, in fact, tariffs should be an action initiated by Congress, so this should come from Congress,” Bacon told CNN host Wolf Blitzer on Thursday.
“But I think we made a mistake,” Bacon added. “In the past, we have passed laws that gave the president temporary customs authority, and I think we should look back and turn our power back to Congress.”
The left believes Trump's tariffs are a declaration of war. But they are ignorant of the battlefield
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed members of the media after US President Donald Trump signed an order from Canada, Canada, Canada and China on Saturday, February 1, 2025, imposing strict tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China. (Canadian media via Justintan/AP)
Bacon said Congress would allow too many unilateral authority for both party presidents over tariffs, which should be granted to the House and Senate.
“Take the permissions that President Biden and Obama have given to his former president, not just President Trump,” Bacon said, adding that Congress has the power of his wallet.
In 1962, Congress passed the Trade Expansion Act, giving the President the sole authority to reduce tariffs below 5%, and Section 232 of the Act gave the President the authority to control imports that could undermine national security.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump said he would issue a 25% tariff on all imported cars, claiming that the tariffs would increase the number of U.S. workers.
In a post on X, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday that Trump's “25% tariffs on cars and mild trucks will not only increase the costs of hard-working American families,” and that Trump's tariffs “have put American jobs at risk.”
Trump also issued a direct warning to Canada and the European Union on Thursday, saying that working together “to cause economic harm to the United States” could lead to increased tariffs.
The 25% tariff increase on all foreign steel and aluminum in Trump began on March 12, 2025. The European Commission responded by saying it would issue tariffs worth $28 billion worth of US goods by mid-April.
Moderate Republican Rep. Don Bacon believes Congress has made a “mistake” in giving the president customs authority and says he wants to see Congress get it back. (Photo: CNN screenshot)
A Nebraska Republican told Blitzer he considers tariffs to be a negotiation tactic.
“I think this is probably part of the negotiations he's doing,” Bacon said. “Many of the cars we make in the US have those parts coming from Canada or from Europe. So today's cars have DNA from five or six countries.”
He added that he hopes tariffs will be a short-term policy.
“Ultimately, tariffs cost more for consumers,” Bacon said. “Consumers will pay more, and we hope these don't work in the long run. That's what we want negotiation techniques.
David Marcus: Trump's Canadian tariffs fall victim to conservative Prime Minister Pierre Polièbre
Columnist David Marcus tells Canadians how US tariffs are affecting politics. (Fox News Digital)
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