U.S. trade representative faces pushback from lawmakers over Trump’s global tariffs

By Canadian Press on April 8, 2025.

WASHINGTON — With a fresh round of U.S. tariffs set to hit the world Wednesday, the United States trade representative faced pushback today from lawmakers worried about the fallout from President Donald Trump’s efforts to realign global trade.

Jamieson Greer faced questions from the Senate finance committee about how Trump’s so-called “reciprocal” tariffs have sent markets into a tailspin.

Greer says the tariffs are necessary to address a national emergency on manufacturing and to reduce trade deficits with the United States.

While Canada wasn’t included in Trump’s global tariffs, the country is still being hit by automobile, steel and aluminum tariffs, and still faces the ongoing threat of economy-wide fentanyl-related tariffs.

Greer told senators that most Canadian imports that comply with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade are still not being hit with tariffs.

Democrat and Republican senators expressed concern about how the duties are affecting industries like tourism and suggested small businesses could be put at risk by the president’s policies.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 8, 2025.

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press