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This swift response illustrates the administration’s confidence in its legal authority under the relevant section of the tariff laws. Trump indicated that while the current rate is now set at 15%, there remains an option to raise it further, up to the maximum allowed under the law, in efforts to curb trade deficits.
Political and Legal Implications
The decision to increase tariffs without waiting for congressional approval marks a significant assertion of executive power in trade policy. Historically, tariffs require Congressional approval, but the Trump administration has argued that certain presidential powers permit unilateral action under statutes like Section 1.22.