Don Beyer warns of congressional showdown as Trump moves ahead with fresh tariff hike

Hours after the Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump's tariffs, deeming his actions had overstepped presidential authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the President announced a new set of tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. "I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been 'ripping' the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level," he wrote on Truth Social.

Democrats, however, have vowed to challenge the President's decision, arguing that the President cannot increase global tariffs without Congressional approval. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), who serves on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, said he will be working to ensure that "they are rejected." In a post on X, Beyer, who is also the Chair of the New Democrat Coalition's Trade Task Force, wrote, "These tariffs will require a vote in Congress later this year, if not sooner. I will be working to ensure they are rejected, and to build a coalition to restore Congress's ironclad authority to regulate trade."

Earlier, Beyers had praised the Supreme Court ruling, calling it a "major victory for the American people, who have spent months under threat of a stupid, self-imposed economic disaster thanks to Donald Trump's trade war." The Democratic lawmaker also announced that his Bill, the Congressional Trade Authority Act, would prevent Trump from "abusing" the Section 232 provision, too. "My bill, the Congressional Trade Authority Act, would prevent Trump from abusing this provision, return trade authority to Congress, where it belongs, and stop Trump's trade war from doing further harm to the United States and the world. Congress should pass it," he said in a statement.

Beyers is also working with both Democrats and a small group of "backbone" Republicans (such as Rep. Don Bacon) to block the extension of the new tariffs, under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The legislation allows the President to impose temporary "stopgap" tariffs for up to 150 days to deal with balance-of-payments emergencies. However, unlike Trump’s previous taxes, the Section 122 tariffs cannot exceed 150 days without a formal vote and extension from Congress. Citing data from the Joint Economic Committee suggesting the previous tariffs cost the average American family roughly $1,625 per year, Beyer labelled Trump's tariffs a "tax on consumers" and vowed to prevent them from getting Congressional approval.