No time to waste on tariffs

This letter was written in response to “Ag secretary seeks to calm worries about trade war,” (July 3, 2018).

Cathy McMorris Rodgers told worried wheat growers that a House group is “looking at … appropriate tools” that Congress “should be asserting right now” with regard to President Trump’s disastrous trade policies. She did not elaborate what these tools might be. The Senate is considering legislation to curb Trump’s power to impose tariffs under the Trade Expansion Act. Lisa Brown supports this; CMR is undecided.

We need to tell Cathy McMorris Rodgers the time for “looking at” this matter is long past, and House leadership needs to start doing something before the damage from an expanded trade war becomes permanent.

Trump is considering imposing 20 percent tariffs on autos and pulling out of the World Trade Organization. Unchecked, Trump will continue on this destructive path because he cynically considers his trade position a way to solidify his base in the upcoming congressional elections, even though a trade war will hurt more of his supporters among blue collar workers and farmers than it will help.

Republicans, by joining with like-minded Democrats, could probably pass veto-proof legislation to stop Trump. The question is whether they will put the interests of the country above the wishes of their president and his most rabid followers.

Donald D. Lamp

Spokane