Ways and Means Dems Introduce Bill to Bar Tariffs Under IEEPA

Ten Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee introduced a bill that would forbid the president from using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, to impose tariffs or quotas on imports.

The president still would have the ability to raise tariffs without congressional approval through Section 301, or, on specific products, through Section 201 or 232, but all those laws require studies, and some also require public comment before an agency implements a tariff hike.

Reps. Suzan DelBene of Washington and Don Beyer of Virginia, both known as free trade advocates, led the bill. Called the Prevent Tariff Abuse Act, the measure is aimed at stopping a global tariff, a Nov. 20 news release said.

"The law was intended for the president to be able to impose financial sanctions on hostile foreign nations that pose an emergency threat to the nation. It was never meant to allow a president to indiscriminately impose tariffs without Congress’ approval," the release said.

“The American people have clearly and consistently said that costs are one of their top concerns. Imposing sweeping tariffs on imported goods would raise prices on consumer products by thousands of dollars a year according to estimates," DelBene said in the release. "Not only would widespread tariffs drive up costs at home and likely send our economy into recession, but they would damage our trade relationships with allies and likely lead to significant retaliation, hurting American workers, farmers, and businesses.”

Beyer said that Congress “has ceded far too much authority to the president to unilaterally raise tariffs, and in the wrong hands that power can be used to wreak economic havoc and harm broad swathes of the country.”