Taxpayer Watchdog Denounces Planned Tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico

For Immediate Release

Contact: Kara Zupkus (224) 456-0257

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that 25 percent tariffs would be applied to goods imported from Mexico and Canada. There would also be 10 percent tariffs applied to goods imported from China starting tomorrow (February 1, 2025). Although some details remain unclear, this would make good on a long-standing threat by President Donald Trump. In response, TPA PresidentDavid Williams provided the following comment:

“This is a seismic and irresponsible departure from America’s commitment to free trade that will harm American businesses and consumers. The data are clear: the costs of tariffs are paid by Americans, not foreigners. Just as they did during the first Trump administration, tariffs will raise prices, reduce American prosperity, and reduce the productivity of the domestic manufacturing sector. It will also cost American jobs. Protectionism is the very definition of a nation shooting itself in the foot. Tariffs mean increased costs to millions of struggling consumers across the economy to provide concentrated benefits to a few privileged industries.

“This announcement is even more egregious considering the fact that the new tariffs seem likely to primarily target Canada and Mexico, two of America’s closest trading partners. New tariffs will fracture those relationships and invite retaliation, which will further harm American exporters.

“All this underscores the burning need to remove unilateral trade powers from the Presidency. The Constitution vests these powers in Congress. Whatever free-trade rationale once existed for delegating them to the executive, the mutual protectionism of Presidents Trump and Biden has proven that they must be returned to their rightful owner, the legislature.

“TPA represents millions of taxpayers and consumers who will be harmed by these disastrous impositions. The protectionist case is built not on real-world economic data but unexamined assumptions, fallacious readings of history, and selective evidence. In the end, protectionism amounts to central planning, which is almost always a fool’s errand – not to mention a hallmark of progressivism, rather than American conservatism.

“TPA urges President Trump to reconsider the announced tariffs. Even more strongly, we urge Congress (the primary branch of government in the American system) to retake the reins of authority and do the right thing for the American people.”