A reduction in reciprocal tariffs on Chinese goods to 10% has not ended the harm to families that need to stock up for new babies, Congress's "Dads Caucus" argued at a press conference May 15.
Trade groups representing three strong exporting sectors -- soybeans, semiconductors and medical devices -- and an expert in critical minerals trade all told the Senate Finance Committee that higher tariffs on all countries and products, and constantly changing tariff policy, aren't good for American competitiveness.
Thea Lee, head of the Bureau of International Labor Affairs during the Biden administration, complained that the tariff approach of the Trump administration ignores forced labor, and that the Department of Government Efficiency ended all the programs ILAB funded around the world. Those programs aimed to convince local societies to end child labor, to help foreign countries improve working conditions, and they funded research on the best ways to achieve these goals. The grants totaled more than $575 million, and some were scheduled to run through 2026, 2027 or 2028.
The Senate Finance Committee's top Democrat, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, said he thinks Republicans in Congress will act to reverse some of the tariffs President Donald Trump has imposed -- if they hear enough outrage from Republican base voters.
Washington state punches above its weight in goods exports, and exported $57.8 billion worth of goods in 2024, including $40.7 billion in manufactured products. Some 45% of those manufactured exports are Boeing planes and aerospace parts.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., are asking the Trump administration to share more information about their negotiations with countries after the president imposed emergency tariffs on every country.
A bill being considered in the House Ways and Means Committee that would extend Trump tax cuts that would otherwise expire at the end of the year is looking to international trade to pay for part of the cost of income tax reductions. The bill also adds new tax breaks, such as on overtime pay and tips.
President Donald Trump, at a press conference May 12, told reporters that he told leaders from Pakistan and India that if they didn't stop bombing each other, he'd stop imports from their countries.
President Donald Trump touted his plan to get foreign health purchasers to pay more for pharmaceuticals, and U.S. consumers to pay less, as he signed an executive order seeking to equalize those prices.
The Trump administration is leaving 20% tariffs levied in response to fentanyl smuggling in place, while reducing what had been 125% reciprocal tariffs to just 10%, the same as all reciprocal tariffs globally.