Stop the Tariff Chaos: Congress Must Take Control of Trade Policy

The American economy cannot afford to be governed by impulse and bluster. Goldman Sachs has warned that up to 67 percent of Trump’s tariffs will fall on consumers by year’s end. That’s not strategy, that’s a tax on working families. Core inflation is expected to rise to 3.2 percent, eating into household budgets already stretched by housing, food, and energy costs. Tariffs are not tools for tantrums. They are powerful economic levers, and when used recklessly, they damage more than they protect. The services sector is already slowing. Manufacturers are hesitating. Small businesses are paying more for goods they used to get at reasonable prices. Nobel economist Joseph Stiglitz and the overwhelming majority of experts agree that these tariffs are inflationary and economically unsound. Even conservative-leaning economists have criticized the lack of strategy, saying it creates uncertainty and undercuts American competitiveness. This is where Congress must lead. Reclaim your authority over trade policy. Ensure that any tariff decisions are tied to long-term goals, not short-term political theater. Economic decisions should be grounded in research, real negotiation, and clear communication. The American people deserve leaders who act with reason, not reaction.