Trump's Tariff Decisions Draw Warnings from GOP Lawmakers

This week, U.S. President Donald Trump moved to impose tariffs on imported solar panels and washing machines. In Washington, several Republican senators condemned Trump’s decision, revealing GOP differences over international trade.

The sixth round of talks involving U.S., Canadian, and Mexican trade officials is also taking place this week in Montreal, and GOP lawmakers are advising the administration to move carefully as it renegotiates the North American Free Trade Agreement. As The Washington Post reports, "NAFTA enjoys wide support among Republicans lawmakers, and before Trump, the party was largely united in favor of free trade ... The tariffs and uncertain nature of NAFTA discussions have stoked fears among GOP lawmakers that Trump will follow through on threats to withdraw the United States from the trade pact."

“I don’t agree with it. I think it’s a bad path to head down,” Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said of the tariff decision. “The retaliatory tariff fight is never a good fight, and I generally think we need to be more positive about our trade opportunities.” Republicans are drafting a letter to Trump putting those concerns on record. The lawmakers said the tariffs could start a trade war that would damage the U.S. economy and threaten jobs, hurting the American workers Trump says he wants to help.

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