Neal, Wyden Oppose Giving Trump New, Unilateral Tariff Power in Sanctioning Russia Act

Leading Democrats on Trade Policy Warn Russian Sanctions Bill Could Lead to Higher Prices and Unchecked New Tariffs Paid by American Families

WASHINGTON, DC-House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced their opposition to granting Donald Trump massive new tariff authority as part of the Sanctioning Russia Act, in a joint statement today.

"There is no question that the U.S. government must take stronger action against purchasers of Russian energy who are fueling the unjustifiable war against Ukraine. But the latest draft of the Sanctioning Russia Act is a prescription for bedlam and higher tariffs. It grants Trump authority to impose tariffs up to 100 percent on major trading partners and allies. Congress would not be able to stop Trump from unilaterally lowering those tariffs or raising them at will," Neal and Wyden said.

"It is extremely dangerous to give Trump massive new tariff powers, particularly after we've seen the disastrous impacts of his corrupt, chaotic, and inflationary tariff spree. Congress must stop outsourcing responsibility for trade and tariffs to a runaway executive who is more interested in consolidating his own power than in the welfare of the American people. We stand ready to take action against Russia and those propping up its economy, but we cannot support awarding even more tariff power to Trump."

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