Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2018 March 9

= March 9 =

Trump’s tariffs
President Trump just imposed high tariffs on aluminum and steel imports. What is the source of his power to this (as opposed to Congress doing it)? Loraof (talk) 17:02, 9 March 2018 (UTC)
 * Because Congress has, over the years, granted the Executive wide ranging powers to impose such tariffs without needing to go through Congress first. This article lays out the various acts which have done so.  Congress still retains the ultimate right to override the President over any specific tariff, or to ammend the U.S. Code to remove these granted powers permanently; however to do so they would need to be able to override the (almost certain) veto Trump would issue.  That would require a 2/3rds vote in each house to do so, and while it is likely the houses have the 50%+1 necessary to pass the bill, they don't have enough to override Trump's veto on this one.  The article I cite above explains all of that in some detail and also lays out the specific legislation that Trump invoked to impose the tariffs.  There's at least half a dozen laws that also could apply.  -- Jayron 32 18:46, 9 March 2018 (UTC)


 * How Ironic !. During the 1930's both the Carnegie Steel Company and the aluminum industries built more production capacity than the US home market could consume, because these companies had their eyes on destroying  Europe's foundries, with cheap steel and aluminum. Also, projects like the Hoover dam provided very cheep electricity for aluminum production and large coal fields for steel production meant  European industry could not compete on this un-level playing field.  Back then, the US presidents did not think this was unfair. Now the boot is on the other foot,  Trump is  whining like a little child and throwing his toys out of his pram. -- Aspro (talk) 19:20, 9 March 2018 (UTC)


 * Oh. Last thought. He'd be better off by fixing the education skool system where students may graduate from high school and collage  but but haven't  received the  education necessary to take the jobs that now being offered to 'green cards' applicants from countries that do educate in the proper meaning of the word. If he wants to fix something, then don't try to mitigates the symptoms  but bit the bullet and cure the source of the US economic decline. But of course, that will require raising taxes. Which is both a Trump/Clinton No No. --Aspro (talk) 19:53, 9 March 2018 (UTC)
 * He's talking about raising the gasoline tax, as well as having imposed this tariff. He'll be getting the income tax cuts back into the government in these other ways and whatever else he comes up with. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 22:55, 9 March 2018 (UTC)