"This issue is going to wreak havoc on our country."
UPDATE: In remarks on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, challenged the Senate to assert its constitutional authority on trade policy by passing his bipartisan legislation to require congressional approval of tariffs.
"I rise today to talk about the abuse of authority that's taking place with the administration's use of Section 232 of the [Trade Expansion Act of 1962] to implement taxes on the American people," Corker said. "Let me say this one more time. The president and the administration [are] abusing Section 232 of the [Trade Expansion Act of 1962] – has decided on its own accord – to tax the American people."
"This is Congress' responsibility," continued Corker. "[It is] Congress' responsibility to generate tariffs or deal with taxes."
"Today I wrote a letter to Secretary Ross, our Secretary of Commerce, because it's my understanding – and he actually today, I guess, in a hearing with the finance committee said – there were 22,506 requests from companies here in the United States asking for exclusions," added Corker. "My question to Secretary Ross is on what basis is he going to be granting these exclusions? Are they going to be friends of the administration that get exclusions? Are they going to deny exclusions to opponents of the administration? Or are they going to use a, quote, national security reason, if you will, to grant exclusions?"
"I just want to say, again, I think this is our responsibility. I realize that when additional tariffs go in place in July, when these other countries retaliate, which is their plan on July 1, my guess is that this issue may become more ripe for action."
"This issue is going to wreak havoc on our country. It already is wreaking havoc on our relationships with friends that have been with us for many, many years in defense – that have come to our aid, we've come to their aid. We've had alliances," Corker concluded. "I challenge the Senate to take action on this. There's a [bill] that's broadly supported by people on both sides of the aisle with a wide range of ideology that would say if we're going to invoke 232, a national security section, that we would vote on that. My sense is that as this moves along people are going to want to vote on that, and I look forward to that day occurring."
Earlier today, Corker released a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in which he conveys his "deep concern" about President Donald Trump's implementation of steel and aluminum tariffs and seeks assurance that decisions of exclusion from them will be made "free of political interference or persuasion."
"These tariffs already are disrupting and damaging numerous American businesses and will continue to have real world effects, including the possibility that many Americans could lose their jobs as businesses face increased costs," Corker wrote.
He said the process for granting exclusions for "specific national security" considerations "while purporting to establish fair procedures, instead opens the door for the president, through his Commerce Secretary, to pick economic winners and losers. Not only has the administration abused the Section 232 authority delegated to it by Congress under the guise of national security, but [it] now is in a position to grant exclusions to favored companies or withhold benefits from political opponents."
Corker wrote that, "In order to allay these concerns, I request further details regarding the process for granting exclusions and seek assurances that your department will make decisions free of political interference or persuasion."
Corker authored bipartisan legislation that would require the president to submit to Congress any proposal to adjust imports in the interest of national security under Section 232. That bill is cosponsored by Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and others.
Senate leaders blocked Corker's request for an up-or-down vote on the bill.