Kaine Statement on President Trump’s Executive Orders to Unleash Senseless Trade Wars

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed executive orders to impose a new 25 percent tax on goods from Canada and Mexico, and a new 10 percent tax on goods from China:

“Virginians want lower prices, not higher ones, and the last thing we need are new, senseless taxes on imports from America’s three largest trading partners. During President Trump’s first term, his trade wars hit Virginia hard. Our farmers and foresters were especially affected, but everyone suffered. Everyone, that is, except for Trump’s cronies—billionaires, bitcoin bros, and offshore bandits. Here we go again.”

Kaine is committed to protecting Virginia families from price hikes imposed by tariffs. Yesterday, he introduced the Stopping Tariffs on Allies and Bolstering Legislative Exercise of (STABLE) Trade Policy Act to rein in chaos that Trump could create by unilaterally imposing tariffs on allies and nations with a congressionally-approved trade agreement. Last week, he introduced the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes on Imported Goods Act to shield American families and businesses from increased costs by limiting the president’s authority to impose unlimited tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a law never intended to be used for tariffs.

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