Corker: Republicans are working on plan against Trump tariffs

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said that he and other Senate Republicans are working on a plan to fight President Trump’s decision to no longer exempt U.S. allies from steep steel and aluminum tariffs.

Corker spoke out against the tariffs in a pair of tweets on Saturday, sharing pieces from The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post on the tariffs.

The Journal’s editorial board slammed Trump’s decision to remove exemptions for the European Union (EU), Canada and Mexico from steep aluminum and steel tariffs. The Post story also focused on Trump’s tariffs, as well his order for the Energy Department to buy from struggling coal and nuclear plants to try and help the industry.

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“These two stories feel like something I could have read in a local Caracas newspaper last week, not in America. Venezuela, here WE come!” the Republican tweeted.

“I am working with like-minded Republican senators on ways to push back on the president using authorities in ways never intended and that are damaging to our country and our allies,” Corker continued. “Will Democrats join us?”

These two stories feel like something I could have read in a local Caracas newspaper last week, not in America. Venezuela, here WE come! https://t.co/dma8ZdqbrI https://t.co/J3h74DswmM

— Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) June 2, 2018

I am working with like-minded Republican senators on ways to push back on the president using authorities in ways never intended and that are damaging to our country and our allies. Will Democrats join us?

— Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) June 2, 2018

The retiring senator, who has publicly criticized Trump in the past, previously called the decision to slap tariffs on the EU, Mexico and Canada “an abuse of authority intended only for national security purposes.”

Several other top Republicans have also spoken out against Trump’s decision to impose the tariffs, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Speaker Paul Ryan (Wis.).

Mexico has already announced retaliatory tariffs on several U.S. products, including pork and flat steel. And the EU said that it had “no choice” but to also retaliate.

Canada filed a case against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization on Friday over the stiff tariffs.