UNILATERAL

Trump to Push for New Tariff Powers During State of the Union: Report

Trump is expected to urge Congress to pass legislation that would give him more power to raise tariffs without congressional approval.

President Donald Trump is expected to urge Congress to pass a bill that would give him more power to raise tariffs without congressional approval at his State of the Union address this month, Bloomberg reports. The bill, called the Reciprocal Trade Act, would reportedly increase Trump’s power to “break down non-tariff barriers to American exports” as a response to other countries’ customs and regulations being “too restrictive.” The legislation was reportedly written by White House trade adviser Peter Navarro’s office, and a few House Republicans are said to have been working with the White House on it. A source told Bloomberg that while Democrats—who recently took power in the House—are in favor of cracking down on unfair trade practices, they won’t likely give Trump the “additional executive power” to do so.

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