Larson Statement on Supreme Court Challenge to Trump’s Illegal, Cost-Raising Tariffs

East Hartford, CT - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01), a member of the House Trade Subcommittee, released the following statement after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, a case challenging the President’s use of emergency powers to unilaterally impose tariffs. Leading up to oral arguments, Larson and the entire Connecticut House delegation filed a brief with the Court opposing President Trump’s tariffs, which the Yale Budget Lab estimates will raise costs by nearly $2,000/year for the average household. 

“President Trump's tariffs are a tax on all of us – raising prices at the grocery store, pharmacy, and everywhere you shop,” said Larson. “The Constitution is clear: It is Congress, not the President, with the power to enact tariffs. While he might have thought he would get a better audience today than he got in the lower courts, even some of the most conservative justices questioned his authority to unilaterally tax the American people. I commend Attorney General William Tong and the multi-state coalition taking this fight for working families all the way to the Supreme Court. As costs continue to rise under this unlawful tariff regime, Republicans in Congress are shamefully looking the other way. If my colleagues were actually serious about lowering prices, they wouldn’t wait for the courts to weigh in. They would join Democrats now to end this tax on American consumers and prevent any future president from abusing their powers like this. We are ready to act.” 

As a member of the Trade Subcommittee, Rep. Larson introduced the Prevent Tariff Abuse Act with Reps. Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Don Beyer (VA-08) to block presidents from unilaterally abusing emergency powers to raise prices for working families. He also introduced a bill with Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA-38) to suspend President Trump’s tariffs and require Congress to vote before new tariffs can go into effect.