President-elect Donald Trump plans to implement broad tariffs, leveraging executive powers rather than relying on Congress. While Congress traditionally oversees tariff policy, three key laws give the executive branch latitude in special circumstances:
- Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962: Allows the president to adjust imports posing national security threats.
- Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974: Enables tariffs to counter unfair trade practices abroad.
- The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA): Grants authority to regulate trade during national emergencies.
Legal experts suggest Trump’s tariff plans, particularly targeting China, could fall under these provisions. However, imposing across-the-board tariffs might stretch their limits. Whether Congress, now Republican-controlled, pushes back remains uncertain, as tariffs align with Trump’s agenda.
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