I agree with Congressman Richard Neal’s statement that we all need to push back against Trump’s tariffs that harm local businesses and consumers (“Neal: Ski resort is model for economic recovery,” Gazette, Dec. 11). These tariffs are a tax on imports that are costing U.S. households an estimated $1,700 more per year for goods and services.
At the same time, I am dumbfounded by Congressman Neal’s following comment: “I don’t think tariffs should be based on who we like and dislike in the world,” but “I think that the market ought to make these determinations.”
While some of Trump’s misguided tariff hikes, such as the 40% increase imposed on the imports of Brazilian coffee, are motivated by his personal likes and dislikes, the overriding point is that Congress needs to rein Trump in. As the former Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Neal surely knows that under the Constitution, Congress is authorized to “lay and collect duties” and to “regulate foreign commerce.” While Congress in the past has delegated much of its trade authorities to the president, it is long time past for Congress (and not the market) to take charge of making substantially more trade and tariff determinations itself.
Understandably, Congressman Neal and his fellow Democrats cannot do this because they’re in the minority. Nevertheless, when Mr. Neal meets with his 1st Congressional District constituents, as well as with voters in swing states in the run-up to the critical midterm elections next year, the congressman should fully explain how derelict the Congress under the current GOP leadership has been in letting Trump be Trump, as well as how the rising economic costs borne at home by consumers and companies are a consequence of Trump’s ill advised global tariff wars.
Ray Ahearn
Holyoke