alt Hacker NewsHere's something I want to understand: In 1930 the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act was passed by congress - an act of legislation. Nearly 100 years later we have the president unilaterally picking any tariff numbers he wants. What happened?
Replies
xnx • yesterday at 2:33 PM
Congress could stop this tomorrow if they wanted. They ceded all control to the executive. [Republican] Congress is hoping to claim credit for anything good that happens, but scapegoat Trump when things crash.
timmg • yesterday at 12:50 PM
As I understand: Congress gave the president the power to add tariffs in some "exceptional" cases. Trump claims this is an exceptional case.
We'll see if Congress or the courts do something about it.
He invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which gives him the ability to levy tariffs in an “emergency”. There is no actual emergency, of course, but Congress does not have the political will to stop him.