Republicans in Congress are lobbying President Donald Trump to get him to reconsider a plan to place tariffs on steel and aluminum, Politico reported Monday.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has warned Trump about economic dangers and political backlash that the tariffs could cause and Republicans worry voters could face higher prices due to the tariffs, which would head off their campaign messages of improving the economy, Politico noted.
"We are extremely worried about the consequences of a trade war and are urging the White House to not advance with this plan," Ryan's spokesman AshLee Strong told Politico. "The new tax reform law has boosted the economy and we certainly don't want to jeopardize those gains."
House Ways and Means Committee spokeswoman Lauren Aronson said that the committee's chairman, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, and the subcommittee chairman, Dave Reichert, R-Wash., have drafted a letter to Trump expressing their concerns.
Republicans could look at congressional action to put the brakes on the tariff plan, but such an action would be unprecedented, as Congress in recent years has allowed the executive branch to take the lead on trade, Politico reported.
President Trump on Monday appeared to suggest that Canada and Mexico could earn exemptions from tariffs if they sign a new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) deal.
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