SENATE/TARIFFS/TRADE WAR/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Republican and Democratic U.S. senators blasted Trump administration trade policy on Thursday [7-12-18] and vowed to press ahead with legislation to give Congress a say in decisions to impose tariffs on national security grounds. Prompting criticism from many of his fellow Republicans and business groups as well as Democrats, Trump has imposed levies on imports of steel and aluminum from close allies including Canada, Mexico and Europe and is considering some on automobiles and auto parts…Joshua Bolten, chief executive of the non-partisan Business Roundtable, a grouping of corporate CEOs, told the committee that business leaders worry the economic gains from Trump-backed tax reductions and cuts in regulation would be offset by trade policies that will raise prices and cost American jobs..Corker and other senators introduced a bipartisan bill last month that would force Trump to obtain Congress’ approval before imposing tariffs on national security grounds. But Republican congressional leaders – who control majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives and support most Trump policies – have not allowed a binding vote on the measure, settling instead only for a symbolic vote Wednesday [7-11-18].”
–Patricia Zengerle, “U.S. senators blast Trump on trade, vow to press for change in policy,” Reuters, July 12, 2018 10:39 am