Republicans in Congress are supporting Donald Trump’s tariff campaign as a means of promoting home-state interests and are urging the president to increase import taxes in order to save domestic businesses.
The political argument for raising U.S. tariffs is strengthened by the cries of rank-and-file GOP politicians, who frequently portray trade actions supporting preferred manufacturers as a winning strategy for the midterm elections.
Trump on Tuesday expanded steel and aluminum tariffs to more than 400 categories of products that contain the metals, one of two massive trade barrier extensions he has announced in recent days.
He declared on Friday that new tariffs would be imposed within 50 days as a result of a trade inquiry into furniture imports.
He highlighted the benefit the furniture trade action would bring to producers in North Carolina and Michigan, two states with potentially crucial Senate contests next year, in a social media post announcing the action.
To safeguard regional industries, over a dozen Republican politicians have advocated for new or increased tariffs. A number of the members claimed that Trump either granted their requests or that White House representatives indicated that they would do so.
Sen. Bernie Moreno, a Republican, urged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to increase steel tariffs to cover items made of steel, such as refrigerators and washing machines.
Companies like Whirlpool Corp., which has five manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Moreno’s home state, will gain from the administration’s June action to levy taxes on household appliances based on their steel content.
In an attempt to safeguard a manufacturing facility in his area, Republican Representative Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania urged the government to increase tariffs on electrical steel laminations and cores on behalf of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
In a notification published Tuesday, the administration said the items were part of broader taxes on steel and aluminum imports.
Requests for comment on the part legislators’ requests played in the tariff decisions were not answered by White House or U.S. Commerce Department spokespeople.
Trump allies’ protectionist advocacy portrays tariffs as the GOP’s political boost and the economic salvation of local sectors that are struggling. It’s a clear illustration of how to effectively lobby in the current ambiguous trade environment, despite Trump’s open assertion that his unpredictable nature offers him influence.
The tariff rulings imply that the White House welcomes outsiders who support the administration’s stance on trade issues. Trump frequently used social media to write letters to trading partners announcing trade agreements, eliminating Congress from direct negotiation participation.
Prior to the announcement of Trump’s furniture trade action, Senator Tommy Tuberville stated that the White House had been open to his campaigning for a minimum 60% tariff on wood cabinets, reflecting the demands of regional manufacturers.
Although it was unclear at the time if the furniture trade investigation would result in wood cabinet tariffs, Tuberville stated that he believes the government will eventually grant the request.
In a July interview, Tuberville said that Trump saved cabinet members who were on the verge of collapse during his first administration. He is currently acting in the same manner.
Lawmakers who are advocating for tariffs on wood-based products include Sen. Katie Brittare and Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina. In respective states, several local manufacturers demand that cabinets be subject to at least 100% tariff.
Lobbying by lawmakers doesn’t happen in a vacuum. They frequently forward inquiries from businesses and trade associations that have ties to the Trump administration themselves.
Cleveland-Cliffs sought to obtain the steel tariffs through the assistance of Stephen Vaughn, a senior trade adviser during Trump’s first term.
Lourenco Goncalves, the CEO of the Cleveland-Cliffs, commended the tariffs’ expansion. He stated, “The action gives us certainty that unfairly traded steel embedded in derivative products will not undercut the American domestic market.”
Every president engages in bipartisan lobbying, but Trump’s focus on interpersonal connections makes his efforts unique, according to Matthew Foster, a professional lecturer at American University’s School of Public Affairs.
He said that Trump occasionally exaggerates the opinions of the last person he spoke with, which explains how his close allies stand to gain when they request favors.
According to Gary Hufbauer, a senior scholar at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, getting the subject at hand through the door requires an advocate who has a track record of getting access to the president. “That’s the standard procedure under Trump,” he continued.
Moreno is a Republican from Ohio who actively participates in the president’s inner circle. According to the freshman senator, he speaks with the president once a week and frequently reiterates his wish for Trump to oust Jerome Powell, the chairman of the Federal Reserve.
Moreno highlighted the necessity of shielding Whirlpool from cheaper imported steel and commended Lutnick for comprehending business needs.
Moreno stated in an interview that the Chinese are interested in creating sectors that will rule the world and dismantle American businesses, and that the truth is that Whirlpool Corporation, which has a significant presence in Ohio, is the last appliance maker in America. We must not permit them to do so.
There is an obvious political advantage to the politicians’ efforts to impose tariffs: they are sending a message to voters that their manufacturing jobs will be preserved. However, they also pose a threat to consumers’ cost of living.
Hufbauer stated that while tariffs may be effective politically, they may not be effective economically.
A significant portion of Trump’s supporters are wary of the president’s tariffs. According to a July Politico-Morning Consult poll, almost one in four Trump supporters indicated they believed the tariffs were hurting rather than helping the US negotiate better trade agreements.
Some important sectors in Republican-leaning areas, such as Kentucky bourbon and Wisconsin-based Harley-Davidson motorbikes, experienced domestic unrest as a result of retaliatory tariffs during Trump’s first term. Sens. Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell, both Republicans, have publicly opposed the trade war on the grounds that it is detrimental to their constituents.
___
Bloomberg, 2025 Visit Bloomberg.com, L.P.Tribune Content Agency, LLC is the distributor.
