The Supreme Court is set to hear challenges to President Trump’s use of a 1977 law to claim emergency tariff power. Recently just four GOP Senators from farm-heavy states backed a Democratic measure to end President Trump’s claim of emergency tariff power. However, Iowa’s Chuck Grassley (R-IA) voted with the majority of his party to give the President’s tariffs more time to take effect.
The House is unlikely to consider the Senate bill, leaving the issue to be resolved by the Supreme Court. Senator Grassley says that if the Court rules against the President it would change the way in which the United States attempts to reduce trade barriers.
President Trump said in a social media post that the U.S. would be left “defenseless” if a president can’t “quickly and nimbly” use tariffs. Senator Grassley made his comments on Tuesday during his weekly ag conference call with farm broadcasters and reporters.
