Democratic Senator Says 'Trade War Stuff Is Killing Us in Montana'
Sen. Jon Tester, a moderate Democrat who represents Montana and the owner of an 1,800-acre farm, told International Trade Today that he's interested in evaluating both recently introduced bills that would limit Section 232 authority. "The whole trade war stuff is killing us in Montana, just killing us," he said to International Trade Today. "Ag prices are in the tank, and it doesn't matter if you're talking pulse crops, grain, cattle, they're all in the tank." He added, "I'm still in the business. I was sitting last night figuring out what I'm gonna plant ... there isn't anything worth any money." He predicted that farm foreclosures will continue to rise "if we don't get this squared away."
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There are two bills that seek to rein in the use of Section 232 -- S. 287, introduced by Sens. Pat Toomey, D-Pa., and Mark Warner, D-Va., which has 11 co-sponsors in all; and S. 365, introduced by Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Doug Jones, D-Ala., which has eight co-sponsors, including Jones. Each also has a House companion bill. Toomey's bill would give Congress the chance to roll back steel and aluminum tariffs and would prevent any more Section 232 actions unless Congress consents; Portman's bill would give Congress the opportunity to veto future 232 actions, but since the president could veto those resolutions, it would require veto-proof majorities to stop the tariffs. The Trump administration is considering using Section 232 to raise tariffs on uranium and on autos and auto parts. Toomey has acknowledged that his bill needs to get more support to convince leadership to allow it to come to a vote (see 1901310029).