GOP Leaders Question Trade Representative On Tariffs
Several Republican lawmakers and Trump allies in Congress are calling attention to the pain being created by administration’s punitive tariff policies.
During a hearing on Tuesday before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer answered questions from Republican Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Chuck Grassley of Iowa and James Lankford of Oklahoma, among others, who voiced skepticism about the economic impact of tariffs on everyday Americans.
Greer addressed the committee one day as global markets swung wildly after the president’s aggressive tariff increases, testifying that the policies are already showing results despite both market anxiety and rising costs for families.
North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis directly questioned Greer about the economic impact of tariffs, asking, “So in your mind, do you believe that over the course of the next 14 months, we’re going to have a level of certainty, and the people in the trailer park that I grew up in who are going to bear the brunt of some of these short term cost increases, maybe some job displacement for a period of time. How are they going to be feeling on Groundhog Day 2027, or 2026?”
Tillis, citing retirement concerns, added, “I’ll be 65 in August. Every day, 11,400 people celebrate their 65th birthday. That’s four million a year. So they’re, let’s say from 60 to 65 people are looking at their 401k statements. They did vote for President Trump. They voted for me. I hope that they will again … I wish you well, but I am skeptical.”
Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin echoed these concerns, urging a more targeted approach: “I just really ask you and the President: Focus on the products we actually need as opposed to using this broad instrument. There’s going to be an awful lot of collateral damage. People are already feeling that pain, so I hope you’re sensitive to that. Thank you.”
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley pressed Greer on the administration’s ultimate goals, stating, “In the medium to the long term, do you plan to turn these tariffs into trade deals to reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers? I support that. On the other hand, if the purpose is to stall on negotiations in order to keep tariffs high for the sole purpose of feeding the U.S. Treasury – I oppose that. So, is this administration for trade reciprocity, or for replacement?”
When Oklahoma Senator James Lankford raised the possibility of exemptions, Greer firmly rejected the idea: “The President has been clear with me and with others that he does not intend to have exclusions and exemptions, especially given the nature of the action.”
Senators Grassley and Maria Cantwell, of Washington, have introduced the bipartisan Trade Review Act that would restrict presidential tariff authority. The proposed legislation would require any presidential tariffs to expire after 40 days unless Congress passes a resolution of approval. It would also give Congress the ability to pass a resolution of disapproval to eliminate tariffs at any time. The bill has six additional Republican cosponsors – Kansas Senator Jerry Moran, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, Indian Senator Todd Young, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell and Maine Senator Susan Collins.
Meanwhile, in the U.S. House, Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska is gaining support for his companion legislation.
According to Axios, at least a dozen House Republicans are considering supporting Representative Bacon’s bill to restrict the White House’s ability to impose tariffs unilaterally – a significant break with President Trump, who has threatened to veto the legislation.
Bacon informed Axios that two Republicans – Representatives Jeff Hurd of Colorado and Dan Newhouse of Washington – and two Democrats have already signed on as co-sponsors. “I have 10 others who want to do it but they want to talk to the trade representative first,” he added.
The growing Republican resistance signals mounting concerns about potential economic fallout and impact on household budgets as administration officials defend the controversial trade strategy.
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