'USMCA Was Not A National Emergency': Richard Neal Slams Trump Using Emergency Powers For Tariffs

4 days ago

During a House Ways and Means Democrats press briefing on Thursday, Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) spoke about President Trump's use of emergency powers to impose his tariffs.

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Transcript

00:00This is solid legislation. The steady erosion of congressional authority as it relates to

00:05trade practices is out of hand, and it's because of the impulsive decision-making that we're

00:09witnessing. At 118 yesterday, it was announced that we were going to pause the tariffs.

00:16Yesterday, the argument was also that the idea of consultation meant engagement. Let me tell you

00:23what the consultation meant. A phone call from USTR saying they were going to do the following.

00:27So they're using a 1977 law in 302-201 for the purpose of suggesting that these are national

00:34emergencies. USMCA was not a national emergency. We reached an accord after months of daily negotiating.

00:44The president at the time, the same president we have now, suggested that it was the best trade

00:49deal in history. A week ago, it's the worst trade deal in history, all an excuse to suggest that

00:57one person using tweets can put together policy. So I've got to tell you, I've seen a lot over my

01:03years here, but yesterday's performance, where the entire office of the USTR is not informed

01:10of what's coming, USMCA was a good agreement. These agreements over many, many years, you have a chance

01:17to review, as Linda said. So next year, we're supposed to review USMCA. That's the appropriate

01:23time to make the changes in deliberations. In Canada, I met with Prime Minister Trudeau.

01:30We negotiated. In Mexico, I met with President Lopez Abador. We negotiated. No negotiation is

01:37everything you want, but you come to understand there is some give and take. And what we're

01:42witnessing here, again, is this sort of notion that whatever is said at the White House is right

01:47about trade. Congress is a full partner in the trade discussions

01:52and negotiations. And that's why I think Linda Sanchez's legislation

01:56today is really important. And the timeliness of it couldn't be any better.

02:00Thank you. Thank you. All right. Yes. And now it's my pleasure to

'USMCA Was Not A National Emergency': Richard Neal Slams Trump Using Emergency Powers For Tariffs

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