Trump Says Country's Fate Relies on Rapid Executive Action on Tariffs
President Donald Trump said at a press conference in the Oval Office that the U.S. would no longer have an economically viable country if higher courts uphold the rulings from the Court of International Trade and a U.S. district court that he doesn't have unbounded power to hike tariffs under an emergency statute.
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"We have a lot of countries that use tariffs on us, and use them viciously, actually, and if we didn't have the power to use tariffs on them -- and instantly -- not when you go back to Congress and try to get hundreds of people to agree on something, that would take months to get just one simple proclamation ... . If we didn't have the power to counteract their power, you wouldn't have a country left," he said.
The evening of May 29, after an appellate court imposed a stay on the CIT ruling to end the tariffs and de minimis restrictions on Chinese goods, Trump posted a long rant about the three CIT judges who struck down his actions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. He also complained at length about the fact that the Federalist Society recommended judges to him.
However, it wasn't the Federalist Society who chose Trump appointee Judge Timothy Reif. Rather, according to the Senate questionnaire at the time they considered his nomination, Reif was recommended by then-U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. However, Reif is a Democrat, and served as trade counsel for the House Ways and Means majority when Democrats controlled the chamber.
Trump wrote, "How is it possible for them to have potentially done such damage to the United States of America? Is it purely a hatred of 'TRUMP?' What other reason could it be?"
"The horrific decision stated that I would have to get the approval of Congress for these Tariffs," Trump said.
The decision said the administration could have used Section 122 for the reciprocal tariffs, which would have required the approval of Congress after tariffs were in place for 150 days.
"In other words, hundreds of politicians would sit around D.C. for weeks, and even months, trying to come to a conclusion as to what to charge other Countries that are treating us unfairly. If allowed to stand, this would completely destroy Presidential Power — The Presidency would never be the same!"
He added, "It is only because of my successful use of Tariffs that many Trillions of Dollars have already begun pouring into the U.S.A. from other Countries, money that, without these Tariffs, we would not be able to get. It is the difference between having a rich, prosperous, and successful United States of America, and quite the opposite. The ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade is so wrong, and so political! Hopefully, the Supreme Court will reverse this horrible, Country threatening decision, QUICKLY and DECISIVELY."
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on CNBC that trade negotiations haven't been disrupted by the court setbacks.
He said he had received texts the morning after the verdicts "saying we're just going to keep negotiating with you as before."
Greer also expressed confidence the verdicts would be overturned on appeal. "I think we have a very strong case. Congress clearly delegated to the president the ability to take action when there's a national emergency."