THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent Trump Tariff Fiasco Worsens as Brutal New Reports Reveal a Fresh Scam
May 14, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University, sheds light on the tumultuous landscape of Trump's tariffs on China. He reveals how recent reports expose these tariffs as a major scam with no real concessions from China. Somin argues that the tariffs are legally weak and outlines the potential for significant legal challenges. The conversation dives into the alarming implications of unchecked presidential power in trade policy, raising essential questions about democracy and economic stability.
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Tariff Cut Seen as Policy Defeat
- Trump's tariff reduction from 45% to 30% is seen as a major surrender and repudiation of his tariff philosophy.
- Despite the reduction, tariffs still cause significant economic harm and uncertainty for businesses.
Tariff Uncertainty Hurts Business
- Businesses struggle to plan amid tariff uncertainty, needing long-term stability for investments and relationships.
- The president's unchecked ability to impose varying tariffs stifles economic predictability.
Tariffs Lack Legal Emergency Basis
- Trump uses the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to justify tariffs, but the law neither mentions tariffs nor supports this broad use.
- Trade deficits are not national emergencies or threats, so invoking them as such lacks legal basis.