WASHINGTON, D.C. – In late February, the Supreme Court struck down the President’s use of emergency powers to issue tariffs. Soon after the ruling, Trump said he would use a different route to implement tariffs. A handful of Democratic governors and a US Senator are looking to rein in the President’s tariffs.
“Today, I will sign an order to impose a ten percent global tariff under section 122 over and above our normal tariffs already being charged,” the President said in February following the Supreme Court decision.
He later announced it would be raised to 15 percent.
In a February report from the Tax Foundation, the impact of tariffs will cost on average $600 per US household in 2026.
On Wednesday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and several other Democratic governors sent a letter to congressional leadership, urging congress to reel in the president’s tariffs. They said the Supreme Court’s ruling affirmed its congress’ duty to set tariff and trade policy.
“Combined, Trump’s tariffs and his reckless war in Iran are a one two punch of American families that they cannot afford,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D- NY).
Senator Gillibrand said businesses and consumers are already struggling with increased costs of groceries and utility bills. This week she introduced legislation called the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act.
“Which would exempt small businesses from the president’s new tariffs,” said the Senator. “This legislation would also refund businesses from the costs they’ve already incurred from the tariffs and make sure these funds translate for lower prices for consumers.”
US Customs and Border Protection said they collected about $166-billion in tariffs since last year. Last week, a judge with the US Court of International Trade ruled that companies are entitled to refunds for the President’s tariffs overturned by the Supreme Court. The judge is giving the administration more time to process refunds after CBP said they needed additional days to set up an automated system.
White House Spokesman Kush Desai sent us this statement after we asked about the proposed legislation and the request for tariff refunds: “Democrats spent decades talking about lopsided ‘free’ trade deals, reshoring middle-class manufacturing jobs, and lowering prescription drug prices. President Trump used tariffs to actually deliver where Democrats could only talk, so naturally Democrats are resorting to gathering more meaningless popcorn headlines.”
