Club for Growth Condemns Plans to Expand Presidential Trade Authority

Today, Club for Growth President David McIntosh issued the following statement after reports that White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro is pushing legislation to enhance the president’s power to unilaterally increase tariffs.  News reports reveal that Representative Sean Duffy (R-WI) is planning to introduce such legislation called the United States Reciprocal Trade Act:

“Not just no, but hell no!  Tariffs are taxes on Americans, plain and simple,” stated Club for Growth President David McIntosh.  “The American Revolution was fought over the principle of no taxation without representation.  We will fight to keep that principle alive in America today!”

“Over the years, Congress has continually handed over its authority to the Administrative State.  This fundamentally undermines the separation of powers that has, to date, helped keep in check any branch from consolidating power at the expense of freedom.

“Not surprisingly, former Democrat and union representative, now-Trump adviser Peter Navarro is pushing this effort.  We hope Republicans and Democrats alike in Congress will reject his unconstitutional and profoundly anti-American idea and prevent the Navarro-Duffy bill from ever seeing the light of day.”

###