Free Republic

I am unclear on the tariff’s issues. Does the president have the ability to post tariffs? I understood ( US Constitution ) that congress was the only body with power to do such. And as a side question after reading at The Heritage Foundation’s site on Fast Track Trade Promotion Authority - how could giving the executive branch TPA be constitutional? But I really need to know if Bush can levy duties or tariffs on steel or Canadian lumber or do such actions originate with Congress and then rubber stamped by the Chief . Thank you. Keyser

MONTERREY, MEXICO - I have a hard time believing I'm writing this, but the United Nations -- a monument to bureaucracy, inefficiency and pompous talk -- may have actually achieved something at the anti-poverty summit of more than 50 heads of state that ended here Friday. By reaching an agreement of ''shared responsibilities'' whereby rich countries commit themselves to increase their foreign aid to poor countries that pursue free-market policies and respect human rights, the summit managed to extract a $5 billion increase in U.S. foreign aid over the next three years, and a $4 billion annual hike from the...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. WASHINGTON -- The U.S. government issued duties Friday averaging 29 percent on a popular type of Canadian lumber to protect American jobs and retaliate for what it says are unfair trade practices. Critics say the move could add $1,500 to the price of a new U.S. home and devastate the Canadian lumber industry, which already has suffered mill closings and job losses from U.S. tariffs imposed last year. The Commerce Department determined in its investigation that Canada subsidizes its industry by charging low fees to log public lands and allows its...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- When North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley holds a textiles summit with governors of three other Southern states, the chief topic will be what can be done to save a floundering industry that could be on the verge of collapse. In the back of everyone's mind will be the White House's recent initiatives to salvage a similarly struggling U.S. steel industry, which also had sought government intervention to prevent what many called unfair foreign trade practices from bankrupting more American steel companies. Maligned by critics in other steel-producing nations,...

WASHINGTON — A group of U.S. lawmakers accused Japan on Tuesday of manipulating foreign exchange markets to push the yen lower, and urged the Bush administration to take a stronger stand against the practice, which they said has hurt American carmakers. In a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, the lawmakers say a 30% decline in Japan's yen against the dollar since Jan. 1, 2000 has made Japanese cars cheaper in the United States. "This excessive weakening, which has been mirrored by the Korean won, is having a significant negative impact on the U.S. automotive industry," says the letter...

TOKYO, March 20, Kyodo - Japan is set to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) later Wednesday as the U.S. emergency tariffs on steel imports take effect the same day in Washington. Tokyo believes the U.S. tariffs of up to 30%, aimed at rescuing the beleaguered U.S steel industry, violate WTO rules as steel shipments to the United States have declined since their peak in 1998, Japanese officials say. The Japanese action came in line with that of the European Union (EU), which has already taken the case to the WTO. South Korea and other steel exporters...

America's foreign trade partners have been so infuriated by America's recent steel tariffs that you'd think steel was the world's most important industry. Steel-making does indeed create valuable high-wage jobs and is critical to national defense. But what foreign steel interests are really worried about is Washington extending its new steel trade policy to a host of key sectors of the economy, The reason stems not from a sudden conversion by George W. Bush to protectionism. Instead, U.S. trade partners know that the overcapacity in world steel production that their governments have encouraged or actually subsidized, and that has led...

None Dare Call It DictatorshipMarch 17, 2002 A few years ago, I wrote a letter to the editor about a woman who ran afoul of the authorities when she refused to rent a room to a couple who were shacking up out of wedlock. She was charged with discrimination, and had appealed the decision to the level of a federal circuit court. When the circuit court ruled against her, she appealed to the Supreme Court, which decided not to take the case. I sent the letter to my e-mail list, and got the following response from a recipient: "What...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. CHICAGO -- President Bush renewed his support Saturday for tariffs on steel imports even as his Treasury secretary was reported to have opposed the move, saying it would cost American jobs. Bush imposed hefty tariffs of up to 30 percent on a range of steel imports on March 5, suggesting it would help ailing U.S. steelmakers get back on their feet. "The president's view is that the relief will provide the industry the time to recover," spokeswoman Claire Buchan said as Bush attended a St. Patrick's Day parade. Buchan was responding...

<p>His handpicked candidate for governor of California, the RINO (Republican in name only), liberal, Clinton-supporting former mayor of Los Angeles, Richard Riordan, suffered an 18-point drubbing by conservative Bill Simon (the son of the former Treasury secretary) in the March 5 Republican gubernatorial primary. Backing Mr. Riordan was the first serious political misstep of the Bush presidency, and one wonders how his political team could have so badly misread the conservative California Republican base.</p>

<p>Last week, the administration slapped tariffs of up to 30 percent on steel imports. The move has seriously tarnished President Bush's image as a free trader and must have been painful for Trade Representative Robert Zoellick to argue publicly. What is more, it will put a hefty burden on U.S. consumers, corporations and, eventually, taxpayers. Abroad, U.S. trading partners are fuming, and many have made clear, through statements and actions, that there will be consequences to Mr. Bush's decision. Although a trade war will only hurt consumers worldwide, Mr. Bush knew he risked international retaliation.</p>

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. MOSCOW -- Russia said Tuesday it wants the right to inspect U.S. poultry plants, a demand that came as the two countries were in tense negotiations after Russia banned imports of American chicken. The two countries were in talks Monday and Tuesday over the Russian ban, which went into effect on Sunday. Moscow says it is worried about sanitary conditions at U.S. plants and the use of antibiotics and feed additives. U.S. officials say the ban is not justified scientifically and is simply protectionism. Chicken is the top American export to...

ABOUT a month ago in these pages, I had cause to complain about the headline appended to my review of George W Bush's first year: quot;My, How You've Grownquot;. I pointed out that, as I've always regarded the President as a colossus who bestrides the planet, he could hardly grow any more in my eyes. Well, if the Executive Editor (Headlines) is short of inspiration this weekend, feel free to use my suggestion: My, How You've Shrunk. Last Tuesday was the absolute low point of the Bush presidency. Even in the wobblier moments of September 11 and 12, he never...