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US Senators Introduce Bill Requiring Congressional Approval of Any Tariff Policy

© AP Photo / Evan VucciPresident Donald Trump speaks before he signs a presidential memorandum imposing tariffs and investment restrictions on China in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, Thursday, March 22, 2018, in Washington.
President Donald Trump speaks before he signs a presidential memorandum imposing tariffs and investment restrictions on China in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, Thursday, March 22, 2018, in Washington. - Sputnik International
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WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Senator Bob Corker said in a press release on Wednesday that the legislation was necessary to stop President Donald Trump's administration from "abusing" the authorities granted to him by Congress under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.

If the draft bill becomes law, Congress would have 60 days to approve all future tariffs, as well as those put into place within the past two years, the release explained.

Moreover, new legislation introduced by a group of bipartisan US senators would require the president to get approval from Congress first before imposing any new import tariffs in the interest of national security, Senator Bob Corker said.

"US Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today introduced legislation to require congressional approval of tariffs designated under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962," the release said.

FILES) In this file photo taken on March 17, 2015 a worker packs coils for delivery at the production site of a German steel company in Salzgitter. Imposed stiff tariffs by the United States on European, Mexican and Canadian steel and aluminium, that have come into effect on June 1, 2018 - Sputnik International
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Section 232 allows the president to impose duties on imports that are deemed a threat to national security. Trump invoked Section 232 to levy duties on aluminum and steel imports from the European Union, Canada and Mexico.

The clause has only rarely been used to impose tariffs previously in US history, such as when former President Jimmy Carter used it to ban Iranian oil in 1979 in response to the Iran hostage crisis.

"Making claims regarding national security to justify what is inherently an economic question not only harms the very people we all want to help and impairs relations with our allies but also could invite our competitors to retaliate," Corker said in the release.

A worker walks by rolls of steel products at Posco steel mill in Pohang, south of Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 5, 2003 - Sputnik International
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The senator added that if Trump truly believes Section 232 is needed to protect the United States from a genuine threat, he should be willing to make his case to Congress and the American people.

Last week, Trump announced he would remove an exemption on 25 percent tariffs for steel and 10 percent for aluminum from Canada, Mexico, and the European Union due to the national security threat posed by the imports of these metals.

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