President Trump’s proposed tariffs on steel and aluminum could hurt U.S. national security, a group of GOP senators led by Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities Chairman Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) wrote in a letter to the president.
President Trump is set to announce broad-based tariffs on steel and aluminum imports on Thursday afternoon using a legal provision that allows the imposition of import taxes on national security grounds.
The letter, which cited the White House’s own National Security Strategy and Defense secretary James Mattis’s National Defense Strategy, said that the tariffs would strain alliances the US needs to maintain its national security.
“Our military and intelligence communities benefit from these alliances and partnerships, and in today’s strategic environment it is of utmost importance that we continue to foster constructive relationships with international partners that share our nation’s concerns and interests with emphasis on addressing the most critical challenges facing the U.S. and global steel industry,” the letter said.
“We remain concerned that imposing tariffs risks alienating key international partners that contribute to our ability to defend our nation and maintain international stability,” the letter continued.
The letter was signed by a total of seven GOP senators, including John Barasso (Wyoming), a member of the Senate GOP leadership team.
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