DeLauro Statement on President Trump’s Tariffs on Trading Partners

Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro released a statement in response to President Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on nearly all trade with Canada and Mexico:  

“I am all for the smart use of tariffs — they are an important policy tool that Democrats and Republicans have used to defend critical domestic industries. I worked with President Trump in his first term to make our trade agreement with Canada and Mexico fairer for American workers, and I am ready to do so again.

“President Trump claims to be using these tariff threats to urge greater cooperation on addressing the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. If his goal is truly to stem the tide of fentanyl, there’s an action he can take that would make a difference: closing the de minimis loophole, which allows fentanyl into the U.S. through uninspected low-value shipments. He has the authority to do this today with the stroke of a pen.

“Instead of developing a comprehensive worker-centered trade policy that will bring jobs back to the U.S., President Trump is using the threat of across-the-board tariffs not on behalf of American workers and consumers but to advance his own extremist policy agenda.”

In January, DeLauro urged President Trump’s transition team to finalize efforts to close the de minimis loophole. You can read her letter here.