Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., introduced a bill this week called the Protecting Americans from Harmful CCP Products Act, which would amend the Consumer Product Safety Act, giving the Consumer Product Safety Commission "expanded authority to issue mandatory recalls of hazardous products manufactured or sold by Chinese companies, including those operating through online platforms."
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith has added his voice to the chorus of Republicans pushing back on President Donald Trump's plan to increase Argentinian beef imports, in the aim of lowering beef prices on grocery store shelves.
A majority of the Senate voted to end the fentanyl emergency for Canada, which underlies 30% tariffs on some Canadian goods, under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
The Senate voted 51-47 to terminate the national emergency based on the trade deficit, the emergency the president used to impose tariffs of between 10% and 39% on nearly every country in the world.
Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., introduced a bill Oct. 29 to repeal reciprocal tariffs that apply to coffee imports.
In a hearing on the nominations for the chief agricultural negotiator and the deputy U.S. trade representative responsible for Africa, the Western Hemisphere and Europe, senators from both parties criticized the decision to import Argentinian beef and complained about foreign non-tariff barriers in agriculture.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., cheered the trade deals that leave 19% tariffs in place on Cambodian and Malaysian goods, while those countries lower their tariffs.
Lawmakers across the country decried President Donald Trump's plan to increase imports of Argentine beef, citing "strong concerns" from the U.S. cattle industry.
Republican leadership of the House Ways and Means Committee on Oct. 27 criticized a proposal by French lawmakers to raise its digital services tax, calling it an "unwarranted attack" on American companies. The proposed increase from 3% to 15% will leave the Trump administration "with little choice but to pursue aggressive retaliatory actions," said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., Subcommittee on Tax Chairman Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Subcommittee on Trade Chairman Adrian Smith, R-Neb.
A group of 36 senators and 171 representatives filed an amicus brief last week at the Supreme Court, challenging President Donald Trump's ability to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. All the signatories were members of the Democratic Party, save for Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska (Donald J. Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, U.S. 25-250) (Learning Resources v. Donald J. Trump, U.S. 24-1287).