The Senate takes symbolic steps to assert its power over trade

Senators voted Wednesday, 88-11, to instruct appointed lawmakers to iron out disagreements with the House about an expenditure bill in order to also insert a provision conferring a role to the House. Congress when the executive will decide to impose tariffs on the basis of national security concerns. The non-binding vote marked the first time that the Senate published a report on tariffs on aluminum and steel producers in Canada, Mexico and the European Union, and potentially threatening imports. overseas car manufacturers.

"We must suppress an abuse of presidential authority and restore the constitutional authority of Congress in this regard," said

Senator Jeff Flake

(R., Ariz.) Who, with

Senator Bob Corker

(R., Tenn.), Was one of the authors of the measure.

The vote also exposed Republicans' turmoil in Congress on Trump's commercial program of administration. Wednesday's vote took place the day after the United States announced tariffs of 10% on $ 200 billion worth of Chinese goods, which the Trump administration announced Tuesday and which were invoked on a different authorization.

Supporters expect Wednesday's vote to lay the groundwork for stronger future action. Republican leaders such as

Senator John Cornyn

(R., Texas) stated that Corker would be called to vote on a more restrictive measure to give Congress a say in national security tariffs. Among the senators who plan to offer their own approaches is Senator Rob Portman (R., Ohio).

"We had a strong vote for us to play a role," said Corker. "Now there will be competing bills that will focus on how we deal with this, but I think there is a huge interest in dealing with this issue."

Meanwhile, Republicans were fighting for the Senate seats in November. too much criticism of Mr. Trump's new tariffs on China.

"Let's face it, China is not dealing fairly with us in trade," said

Rep. Jim Renacci

(R., Ohio), who hopes to capture the seat held by

Senator Sherrod Brown

(D., Ohio), who has generally supported Trump in his commercial program. "I'm not very comfortable with all the other ramifications, but at this point, I realize that he's in negotiations … I want to give him the opportunity to negotiate for get the best deal for American workers, then we go "

Proponents of the measure had previously tried to model the defense on pbades and bills on agriculture, a provision that would have limited Mr. Trump's power to use the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to enforce

But they were blocked by Republican leaders, then by Mr. Brown, and their efforts are facing a uncertain future given that many Republican leaders are reluctant to risk triggering Mr. Trump's anger.The instructions to parliamentarians pbaded on Wednesday do not have the weight of legislation.

Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee

Orrin Hatch

(R., Utah), whose panel oversees trade issues, voted on Wednesday, but expressed reservations about legislation that would tie the hands of the president more directly

"They should give the president a chance", he adds. that "we will have to see" if it would authorize a committee to vote on Mr. Corker's original law. "I understand what he's feeling and I have certain feelings that way that you simply can not let the presidents escape and do it all by themselves."

Tensions similar ones are created in the House. On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced legislation demanding that the Trump administration obtain congressional approval before imposing national security tariffs. Similar to Mr. Corker's bill, the measure would also be retroactive and would cover national security rates imposed in the previous two years.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the Senate vote on Wednesday.

million. Trump privately expressed his frustration over Congress' ability to limit or override the White House's power over national security issues. He said that he had complicated efforts to exercise what he sees as a necessary pressure on American allies – especially those in Europe. Three people aware of the details of these conversations said that the president had complained last year when Congress urged him to support a new sanctions bill that would include measures targeting Russia

. I can make better deals with foreign countries than with Congress. "

Officials said Trump had renewed his anger over congressional control in recent weeks in a bipartisan effort to push back the president's aggressive trade measures," officials said Trump told lawmakers in July. privately that they had no right to enforce such a regulation, and that this would have the effect of limiting its ability to enter into bargains advantageous to the American people.

Corker stated on Wednesday that the President said he was unhappy with his persistence. "He is pbading it on to many members," said Corker, noting that 11 Republicans who support free trade have voted against his measure. , he said that "I understand that they were very, very upset by what happened today .."

Republicans are nevertheless divided on the Some Republicans have concluded that they must draft a law to restrict Mr. Trump. Others are reluctant to undermine his presidential authority.

Paul Ryan

(R., Wisconsin) summarizes the dilemma.

"I do not want to hinder the president's negotiating tactics, but I have long said that I do not think tariffs are the answer," Ryan said on Wednesday. . "There are legitimate, absolutely legitimate and unjust business practices, especially from China that we and our allies should face."

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means

Kevin Brady

(R., Texas) said the House could pbad a long-term President's National Security Tariff Act. For now, he said the plan was to wait and see how Mr. Trump's trade policy worked.

"Now, the focus is on how we save time for the President's strategy against China and criticize for that," he said: [traduction]

Kristina Peterson and Andrew Duehren contributed to this article.

Write to Siobhan Hughes at [email protected]