Posted on 02/20/2026 5:16:06 PM PST by CDB
The Trump Administration will take the following actions in short order to ensure continuity in reaching these goals and as part of our negotiated agreements with numerous trading partners:
Immediately impose a temporary 10 percent surcharge on articles imported into the United States, pursuant to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Initiate several investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 (“Section 301”) to deal with unjustifiable, unreasonable, discriminatory, and burdensome acts, policies, and practices by many trading partners. We expect these investigations to cover most major trading partners and to address areas of concern such as industrial excess capacity, forced labor, pharmaceutical pricing practices, discrimination against U.S. technology companies and digital goods and services, digital services taxes, ocean pollution, and practices related to the trade in seafood, rice, and other products. We intend to conduct these investigations on an accelerated timeframe, in keeping with the Section 301 statute’s substantive and procedural requirements. If these investigations conclude that there are unfair trading practices and that responsive action is warranted, tariffs are one tool that may be imposed.
Maintain tariffs currently imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1963, and conclude ongoing investigations.
(Excerpt) Read more at ustr.gov ...
I find it hard to believe a president can’t negotiate trade deals.
Jesse Waters nailed it really. They told Trump he can wash the dishes but he can’t use the dishwasher. All this does is weaken the President vis a vi foreign affairs. If congress really cared about the country thriving they’d have an update to the law on his desk by morning.
That analogy doesn’t work in this situation. He can “sell” you a car but he can’t charge money for it. This does no harm in the foreign affairs. He’s still going to hold their feet to the fire and get his tariff money, one way or another. In fact, it may make him look stronger. Not even the SCOTUS can stop him from doing what he wants.
The other authorities Trump is considering only allow minimal tariffs for a maximum of 150 days unless further authorized by Congress.
Basically, every tariff requires Congressional approval for enduring applications.
“Jesse Waters nailed it really. They told Trump he can wash the dishes but he can’t use the dishwasher. All this does is weaken the President vis a vi foreign affairs. If congress really cared about the country thriving they’d have an update to the law on his desk by morning.”
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You may be correct, but there’s no chance of passing such legislation in a 50/50 Congress.
“I find it hard to believe a president can’t negotiate trade deals.”
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There’s nothing preventing any president from negotiating a trade deal. That’s different than imposing a tax - and a tariff is clearly a tax - which Congress owns and jealously guards.
If you 100% of the Senators actually wanted the country to succeed this would be the easiest bill to pass. Such as it is the number is close to between 8 and 15
:: a tariff is clearly a tax - which Congress owns and jealously guards ::
But, the difference is ‘who pays that tax’.
In the case of tariffs, the country of origin pays the tax, not the US citizen.
If that country forces the manufacturer to pass the increase along in their prices, the US citizen STILL does not pay the tax; they pay increased prices on foreign goods and services.
In this case, Congress wants OUR tax $$ (which does not purchase goods or services) to keep us cowering in the fields.
While freeing up the inflow of cash from the countries/oligarchs for on-going special treatment.
The tariffs interrupt the international graft.
Yep - he is smart enough that he had this plan in the wings in case SCOTUS got it wrong - those who voted against him will be slapping their heads and saying, DOH!”.
Not only that - but the other countries have been able to “reciprocate” with no interference for their own court systems...SCOTUS tried to bare our throats...
The issue is not trade deals.
The issue is taxes. Although President Trump goes to extremes to avoid the truth, tariffs are taxes paid by the American consumers
The SCOTUS ruling pointed out that congress must be involved and went further to show exactly how that can be done.
I will argue that is gross and even perhaps ignorant simplification.
The SCOTUS ruled that tariffs must be established by the congress because tariffs are actually taxes. Further the curt in effect ruled that the President had some very bad advice to choose the emergency powers act as justification for imposing the import duties. Still further, the SCOTUS implicitly pointed out several congressionally mandated statutes that permit the President to impose the import duties.
In his tirade, the President chose to muddy the waters by talking about licensing and license fees. That is at root not really germane nor important at all. The tens of thousands of items listed on the harmonized tariff schedule are the issue.
Thanks for the excellent and logical explanation.
Hey troll, negative again I see. Shocked I say. So your stance is President can negotiate trade deals, he just will have no leverage in any negotiation. Sounds like an excellent plan that will produce well for the US.
thanx for the clarity, cletus
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