An open letter to the U.S. Congress

Reassert Congressional authority and stop the destructive, random tariffs!

1 so far! Help us get to 5 signers!

The Constitution states that the power to levy taxes -- which includes tariffs -- lies with Congress. The President has been capriciously announcing a series of seemingly-random tariffs that have NOT been approved by Congress. Those announcements are abrogating negotiated trade agreements, alienating allies, and roiling the market. It is impossible for countries and companies to set any form of trade policy with the USA given the seemingly-random nature of these tariffs. The latest few tariff announcements are sad examples of this. * The announced tariff against copper is going to hike prices for home construction, the power industry, car manufacturers, aerospace, electronics, defense, and more. We cannot ramp up new copper mining and smelting capacities in a matter of weeks, nor is any company going to try to do so given the uncertain nature of future trade policy. The result will fuel inflation, drive many US products out of reach, and probably bankrupt many US companies. * The announced blanket on Canadian goods is putatively about fentanyl smuggling -- something that law enforcement says is nearly non-existent with that country. Meanwhile, that will further antagonize a (formerly) close ally, and drive up prices on goods used throughout the US, including in raw materials used in manufacturing and home construction. The result will fuel inflation, drive many US products out of reach, and probably bankrupt many US companies. * The announced tariffs on Brazil are purely in response to personal affronts to the President and have nothing to do with US foreign policy. The reasons given are meddling in Brazil's internal legal processes and should not be dealt with via tariff. Again, this is going to push a friendly country further away and inform other countries to wary of us. * The announced tariffs on South Korea and Japan are simply senseless. Those countries are strong trade partners and defense allies with the US, with good negotiated trade agreements. This will distance us from those allies, and needlessly increase costs of goods in the US. Congress needs to reassert its authority as a co-equal branch of government. Stop letting this President destroy international alliances and our economy with these random tariffs! Tariffs should be carefully considered, imposed with care, and managed with diplomacy -- not imposed on a whim by social media posts of letters with random capitalization of letters that read like ransom notes. Tariffs should be targeted, not broad-brush "every place, including islands with only penguins, gets tariffs." Represent your constituents and honor your oath of office. Grow a spine. Stop enabling the destruction of our international standing and economy, and DO YOUR JOB!

▶ Created on July 11 by Restore Separation of Powers

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