How about them apples? WA Congresswoman proposes legislation to block Trump trade war

Washington Congresswoman Suzan DelBene has introduced legislation that would make it impossible for President-elect Donald Trump to impose the broad tariffs he's promised without congressional approval.

Currently, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act allows the president to enact tariffs without having to go through Congress.

Washington is one of the top export states in the U.S., and lawmakers like DelBene fear the impacts of retaliatory tariffs from other countries on goods like apples, technology products, seafood, and more.

“After Trump implemented tariffs during his first term, India closed its markets to American apples, harming farmers in Washington and elsewhere,” DelBene said at a press conference Wednesday. “And that's just one example of the consequences of any president, Democrat or Republican, unilaterally putting in place sweeping tariffs like these.”

She added, "The American people have made it very clear that one of their top concerns is the high cost of living, so it's outrageous that without congressional approval, one of President Trump's first actions upon taking office could be creating what is effectively a nationwide sales tax on foreign goods that saddles working families with higher prices at the grocery store, the gas pump, and the pharmacy counter. In my home state of Washington, 4 in 10 jobs are tied to international trade.”

Trump has argued tariffs would boost American manufacturing and leverage on the world stage.

“Tariffs, if properly used, are a very powerful tool, not only economically, but also for getting other things outside of economics,” he told NBC News in December.

DelBene’s legislation faces an uphill battle with Republicans controlling all branches of government. But she thinks Republican control should lead to more bipartisan support for her bill.

“Republicans should be supportive of this,” she said. “They have the House. They have the Senate. If President Trump wants to go to Congress, he would have a lot of members of his party to engage with on these issues.”