CONGRESS/GOP/TARIFFS/TRUMP PEOPLE: “U.S. Senator Bob Corker accused his fellow Republicans of being afraid to stand up to President Donald Trump on Tuesday [6-12-18], as his legislation to block the president’s ability to impose tariffs on national security grounds hit a roadblock in Congress. “‘We might poke the bear’ is the language I have been hearing in the hallways,” Corker said in an emotional Senate speech…Corker and other lawmakers – Democrats as well as some of Trump’s fellow Republicans – introduced the measure last week after the president’s recent announcement that he was considering tariffs on automobiles, after imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum, citing national security concerns. Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to negotiate better trade deals to bring back U.S. manufacturing jobs, has pursued aggressive measures against trading partners from China to Canada, Mexico and U.S. allies in Europe. This has worried some lawmakers who strongly back principles of free trade, warning that Trump could trigger a trade war that would destabilize the economy and ultimately hurt American workers.”
-Patricia Zengerle, “Senate will not ‘poke the bear’ Trump by passing tariff measure: lawmaker,” Reuters, June 12, 2018 3:03 pm