The Weekly Standard has published a strongly-worded editorial urging Congress to use its power to curtail President Donald Trump's controversial tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, a move he says bolsters national security and saves jobs.
"Trump's decision … rivals in sheer unpopularity the president's early-2017 travel ban," the conservative news magazine's editorial board wrote on Monday.
"There may be excellent reasons to impose penalties on hostile nations for reasons of national security, but levying our allies' imports is no way to do it. Congressional leaders know this, and since they know it, it's their duty at least to debate curtailing the president's authority.
"A simple provision requiring Congressional approval is all it would take to stop the administration from punishing and antagonizing our allies in the simpleminded belief that doing so will protect U.S. industries."
Amending these provisions couldn't be done with a simple majority, the Standard's editors say.
"But that just means Republicans will have to solicit the minority party's support, and there are easily enough Democratic free-traders to make the effort viable," they write.
"Add a few Democrats who'd be willing to go along just to damage the president, and Congress just might be able to save the nation's economy from its misguided protectors."
Under Trump's new tariffs, imported steel will be taxed at 25 percent and aluminum at 10 percent.
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