While Trump is in Britain, Republicans are reportedly plotting to block his Mexico tariffs
- With President Trump on a state visit to the UK, Republican senators are locked in discussions over whether to block Trump's tariffs on Mexico, reported the Washington Post.
- Trump plans to impose 5% tariffs on Mexican goods next week unless the country curbs migration to the US, raising the tariffs by five percentage points monthly until October.
- The lawmakers reportedly see the tariffs as a tax hike on American consumers and businesses, and may have a veto-proof congressional majority to face down the president.
- Republicans have rebelled against their president before. Trump was forced to issue the first veto of his presidency in March, when Republicans were among those who voted to block his declaration of a national emergency at the US-Mexican border.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
As President Donald Trump enjoys the pomp and splendor of his first state visit to the United Kingdom, Republican lawmakers back in Washington are reportedly plotting a dramatic act of defiance against their president.
Sources familiar with their discussions told the Washington Post Monday that the party could choose to block Trump's planned tariffs on Mexico in Congress.
The president announced in a tweet last week that unless Mexico acted to halt the flow of migrants into the US, he would slap 5% tariffs on Mexican goods, with the amount increasing by five percentage points every month until hitting 25% in October.
Republicans are reportedly concerned that the tariffs would be an extra tax on the US businesses and consumers who buy goods and services from Mexico. Senate Majority Leader John Thunetold the publication that "Congress is going to want to probably be heard from" regarding the president's authority to impose the tariffs.
It would not be the first time congressional Republicans have defied the president. Twelve Republican lawmakers were among those who forced Trump to issue the first veto of his presidency in March after Congress voted to block his declaration of a national emergency at the US-Mexican border. The declaration allowed the president to divert millions of dollars of Pentagon funds to border security.
Republicans may again attempt to defy Trump's declaration of emergency, which also allowed him to impose tariffs on Mexico. Republican lawmakers reportedly believe that this time they may have the numbers for a veto-proof majority to override the national security declaration and block the president's Mexico tariffs conclusively.
Trade experts and lawmakers from both parties told Politico Monday that the White House may even have to declare a new national emergency in order to impose the tariffs. The first declaration did not specifically authorize the president to impose tariffs, they believe.
Republicans are also warning that the planned tariffs could endanger Trump's renegotiated free trade deal with Canada and Mexico. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa in a statement on Friday warned, "if the president goes through with this, I'm afraid progress to get this trade agreement across the finish line will be stifled."
Mexican officials Monday warned that Trump's planned tariffs would do nothing to halt the number of migrants crossing the border to the US, and would damage the economies of both countries.
Mexico's Economy Minister Graciela Marquez said that the total economic damage of the tariffs on agriculture in both economies would be $117 million per month.
Trump showed no sign of backing down. In a tweet on Monday he insisted it was in Mexico's power to act on his demands. "As a sign of good faith, Mexico should immediately stop the flow of people and drugs through their country and to our Southern Border," he said.
"They can do it if they want!"