U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) Thursday released the following statement on the administration’s decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico, and the European Union:
“Steel and aluminum tariffs are already doing serious harm to American businesses and workers, and this decision will only make matters worse.
“Imposing tariffs on our allies will do nothing to solve the problem of China’s unfair trade practices, but it will further raise costs for American manufacturers, hurt their global competitiveness, expose farmers to damaging retaliatory tariffs, and put American jobs at risk.
“The administration needs to work with Congress to fix the product exclusion process and find a more targeted, balanced solution that does not threaten to undo the economic momentum driven by tax cuts.”
BACKGROUND
Congresswoman Walorski recently called for improvements to the product exclusion process for steel and aluminum tariffs to reduce burdens on manufacturers and other small businesses. She led a bipartisan letter 38 of her colleagues asking Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to implement changes to streamline the process and provide certainty and relief to small businesses impacted by the tariffs.
After Walorski led 15 of her Ways and Means colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary Ross urging retroactive relief for companies that successfully petition for product exclusions from the tariffs, President Trump signed an order ensuring tariffs paid while a product exclusion request is pending will be returned if the exclusion is granted.
Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
