BURSTRep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) suggested Congress take back its Constitutional authority to impose tariffs, saying lawmakers “made a mistake” in the past by increasingly delegating trade authority to the president.
In an interview on CNN’s “The Situation Room” on Thursday, Bacon reiterated his support for free trade and criticized President Trump’s bold approach to tariffs.
He was asked what “leverage” likeminded Republicans have to push Trump to “deescalate his trade war.”
“Well, in Article I in the Constitution, really tariffs should be a congressional initiated action. So this should come from Congress,” Bacon told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.
“However, I think we made a mistake in the past,” he continued. “We passed legislation that gave the president some temporary tariff authorities, and I think we should look back and maybe restore the power back to Congress and take away the authorizations that we've allowed the presidents.”
Bacon — one of only three House Republicans elected in districts that voted for former Vice President Harris in 2024 — noted that the issue does not just apply to Trump, but to past presidents, including Biden and Obama.
“This power should reside in the House and the Senate,” he added. “We have the power of the purse, and so I think we should restore these authorities back to the house.”
Trump on Wednesday announced 25 percent tariffs on foreign-made vehicle imports, in his latest escalation of his trade war against other countries. He said the tariffs would take effect April 2 and apply to “all cars not made in the United States.”
Parts made in America would not be subject to the tariffs, but many U.S.-made cars are built with parts that cross the U.S. border multiple times before ultimately getting assembled.
Trump argued the tariffs would encourage foreign car producers to move production into the United States and would boost jobs in the long run. But the tariffs could lead to higher prices for cars in the meantime, as it could increase the cost for manufacturers to bring in certain parts.
“For the most part, I think it’s going to lead cars to be made in one location,” Trump said on Wednesday.
Bacon said he supports reciprocal tariffs but said Trump’s approach to tariffs will hurt consumers.
“Obviously, President Trump likes tariffs. He thinks he can negotiate by using tariffs and uses leverage against various countries. I don't mind reciprocal tariffs. If somebody's charging us a tariff, it should be fair. But, by and large, free trade should be the goal,” Bacon said.
“It's the best for the consumer. So when you have free trade, you're giving the best products at the best price, the most efficient as most efficient manner possible. That's what free trade officer offers,” he continued. “Tariffs in the end, hurt consumers. So, Wolf, I support reciprocal tariffs, but we are better off if we have free trade.”