Rep. Suzan DelBene on Tariffs, Trade Policy, and Congressional Authority
The tariffs that President Donald Trump announced on April 2 on virtually all imports would cost about $3.1 trillion over the next 10 years—and would be a $2,100 tax increase per household in 2025 alone by the Tax Foundation’s estimate—making them one of the largest tax increases in American history if they ever take full effect.
But the Constitution makes it clear that only Congress has the power to raise taxes, and Rep. Suzan DelBene (D–Wash.) believes Trump is overstepping his authority. In February, she introduced a bill prohibiting presidents from using emergency economic powers to levy tariffs without congressional consent. That might not stop Trump from trying—but it would force Republican lawmakers to make an uncomfortable choice: defy Trump or give approval to a huge tax hike on businesses and consumers.
DelBene sat down with Reason‘s Eric Boehm in March to discuss the impact of tariffs and the role Congress should play in setting trade policy.
Q: Your district is not far from the Canadian border. What are you hearing from your constituents about these tariffs?
A: When [Trump] has tariffs like
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