Sen. Wyden grills U.S. trade representative on Trump tariffs: ‘Don’t see any strategy’

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden grilled a U.S. trade representative about the Trump Administration’s tariff strategy before the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday.

Last week, President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on foreign countries, including a 10% baseline tax on all imports and even higher rates for certain countries that have tariffs on goods from the U.S. 

These higher tariffs include a notable 34% tax on imports from China, which imposes a 54% total tariff on the world’s second-largest economic powerhouse. The following day, China announced it would match the U.S. with the same rate of 34%.

Trump has since threatened to boost taxes by 50% if the country does not comply. This, combined with the 20% tariffs that are already in place against China, would impose a combined tax of 104%.

On Tuesday, China threatened to take countermeasures against the U.S. “to safeguard its own rights and interests” during the developing trade war.

Sen. Wyden demanded an explanation from U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

“We understand in the Pacific Northwest what the stakes are to have a smart, tough strategy. I don’t see any strategy at all. And you really haven’t said much about what the strategy is this morning,” Wyden said.

In response, Greer said, “Senator, I appreciate your concern. I wanted to keep having a conversation with you about this, but I see a distinct difference between those countries who have come to us and they said, ‘We understand your issues, we understand the deficit, we understand your desire for reciprocity, and we want to work with you on this,’ and the Chinese approach, which has been, ‘We’re going to retaliate.’”

The president has been able to impose the tariffs without approval from Congress through the use of the 1977 International Emergency Powers Act, which grants him the authority to regulate economic transactions after declaring a national emergency.

Wyden also announced a bipartisan effort to curb the president’s trade powers. The resolution — backed by Republican Sen. Rand Paul — would terminate the national emergency Trump declared earlier this year.