Senate Republicans said they are hoping President Trump does not follow through with a threat to impose a 5% tariff on Mexican imports if the country does not curb the massive flow of migrants that end up on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Lawmakers are pinning their hopes on high-level talks between top Trump administration officials and a delegation from Mexico. Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard will meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday.
President Trump said he will impose the tariffs on June 10 unless Mexico takes steps to stop the massive influx of illegal immigrants that cross the country to reach the southern border of the U.S.
“Hopefully Mexico will come to the table before that gets started,” Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., told the Washington Examiner when asked about the tariffs.
While most Republicans agree with the president’s efforts to stop the huge flow of illegal immigration that has resulted in 100,000 migrants per month crossing the border, many are staunchly opposed to the tariff threat, which could significantly hurt the auto industry and farmers.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, called the threat, “a misuse of presidential tariff authority and counter to congressional intent.”
He told the Washington Examiner on Monday that he won’t take any immediate steps to try to curb the president. He’s hoping the talks this week with Ebrard will yield a deal to prevent the tariffs.
“We’ll see what comes out of that,” Grassley said.
Other Republicans are less optimistic about Trump backing down and want Congress to rein in executive branch authority to impose tariffs.
Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., called a new tariff on Mexican imports “a blanket tax increase on everything Americans purchase from Mexico.”
Toomey has authored a bill with Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., that would require congressional approval for a president to take action on tariffs.
Toomey said Trump’s authority to impose a tariff is among the many powers Congress has ceded to the executive branch and needs to win back. “The legislation I’ve introduced would be a really good step,” Toomey said Monday as he left the Senate chamber.
Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, who is chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, would not disclose whether he has talked to the White House about the tariffs but hinted he has made his opposition known to the Trump administration.
Mexico is a major importer of U.S.-produced corn and wheat.
“It’s extremely counterproductive,” Roberts said when asked about the tariffs.
Some Republicans are more sympathetic to Trump’s position, which comes after years of conflicts with congressional Democrats over funding a southern border wall and ensuring quick deportation of those who arrive illegally.
“I understand his frustration,” Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said Monday. “Whether tariffs are the right tactic or some other way is an open question. Mexico has been used for an extended period of time as an open transit point into the United States and often with the cooperation of Mexican authorities to move people to the borders.”
