NAFTA/PAUL RYAN/TARIFFS/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “House Speaker Paul Ryan broke with President Donald Trump over his decision to impose tariffs on imported aluminum and steel products, setting the stage for a high-profile policy fight between Republican leaders and the White House.
Mr. Ryan’s concerns match those of many Republican and Democratic lawmakers, who fear the proposed trade measures will short-circuit the U.S. economic expansion while also punishing allies… Mr. Trump on Monday [3-5-18] afternoon insisted that ‘we’re not backing down.’ Earlier in the day, Mr. Trump linked the tariffs to negotiations with Mexico and Canada on revising the North American Free Trade Agreement… Congressional Republican leaders aren’t ruling out potential legislative action aimed at blocking such tariffs, according to a Republican familiar with the matter… House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R., Texas) urged Mr. Trump to at least exempt some countries from the aluminum and steel sanctions…
The reaction to tariffs has been different, however. Many lawmakers see the tariffs—and possible retaliation against U.S. industries—as having the potential to upend the economic growth that Republicans want to harness heading into the midterm elections. Moreover, unlike on gun or immigration policy, the president has the power to impose these trade sanctions unilaterally without congressional approval.”
-Siobhan Hughes, “House Speaker Ryan Breaks With Trump Over Steel Tariffs,” The Wall Street Journal online, Mar. 5, 2018 05:51pm