President Trump’s announcement he is imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from other countries, including close allies with economies interlinked with ours — notably, Canada — has aroused little enthusiasm and much criticism. It evidently prompted the resignation of Gary Cohn as head of his National Economic Council.

It has also prompted free trade-minded Republicans in Congress to propose repeal of Section 232 of the 1962 trade act, which delegates to the president the power to adjust trade restrictions and impose tariffs.