U.S. lawmakers move to curtail president's power to levy tariffs

U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday introduced legislation to limit the president's power to levy import tariffs on the grounds of national security.

The bills face an uncertain future but underscore bipartisanconcerns on Capitol Hill over the rising costs of the Trump administration's trade policies. The United States in 2018slapped duties on aluminum and steel from other countries, drawing criticism from lawmakers who support free trade andcomplaints of rising supply chain costs across business sectors.

Two bipartisan groups of lawmakers on Wednesday introducedlegislation known as the Bicameral Congressional Trade AuthorityAct in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The bills would require Trump to have congressional approvalbefore taking trade actions like tariffs and quotas under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The lawcurrently allows the president to impose such tariffs without approval from Capitol Hill.

"The imposition of these taxes, under the false pretense ofnational security (Section 232), is weakening our economy,threatening American jobsand eroding our credibility withother nations," said Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, co-sponsor of the Senate bill.

Toomey led a similar push last year that did not go to vote.It is unclear why Congress would consider taking up such legislation now. Still, the bills underscore mounting pressurefrom lawmakers to address concerns over tariffs, especially those on Canada and Mexico as lawmakers ready to vote on a newNorth American trade deal agreed late last year.

Industries 'are hurting'

Republican Chuck Grassley from Iowa, chairman of the Senatefinance committee, earlier pressed the Trump administration tolift tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada andMexico before Congress begins considering legislation toimplement the new pact.

Numerous business and agricultural groups have come out insupport of the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement but havesaid its benefits will be limited as long as the U.S. tariffsand retaliatory tariffs from Canada and Mexico remain in place.

Companies are able to request to exemptions from the steeland aluminum tariffs, but the process has been plagued by delaysand uncertainty.

"Virginia consumers and industries like craft beer andagriculture are hurting because of the president's steel and aluminum tariffs," said Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner,co-sponsor of the Senate legislation. "This bill would roll themback."

Republicans Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and Darin LaHood ofIllinoisand Democrats Ron Kind of Wisconsin and Jimmy Panettaof California introduced the House legislation.