WASHINGTON – US trade representative Jamieson Greer on Tuesday faced Senators from both sides of the aisle who defended the Trump administration’s fundamental tariffs and relayed the economic unrest of their members.

Democrats and Republican senators questioned how policy will affect the state’s industry in the coming months.

“Who can you suffocate the throat if this proves wrong?” asked North Carolina Sen. Tom Tillis.

Greer told members of the Senate Finance Committee that President Donald Trump’s national state of emergency was “common sense” to cause sudden global import taxes.

“Our trade deficit, driven by these states of incompatibility, is a manifestation of a loss of capacity, growth and construction of the nation,” Greer said.

“The president acknowledges the urgency of that moment. On the first day of his second term, President Trump issued a comprehensive memorandum deciding on the direction of his trade policy. Other presidents did this.”

Responses from around the world range from full retaliation to negotiations and surrender. Chinese officials who could reach 104% tariffs after Trump threatened to pile up more on Monday said they had said they had said they had said they had said they had ‘Fight to the end. ”

Customs will be released immediately after midnight

The previously scheduled hearing on Trump’s trade agenda took place less than a week after the president used the emergency to announce new import taxes on products from almost every country around the world.

Trump’s tariffs It begins right after midnight, attacking major exporters in the United States, attacking poor and developing countries. They range from a 46% tax on Vietnam, where major exports to Americans contain high-tech products, to a 50% tax on Lesotho, a small African country that exports diamonds to US jewellers.

The administration’s claim that dozens of governments regained contact on Tuesday to support us and the global market after three days of turbulence wiped out trillions of dollars of wealth.

Trump’s baseline 10% tariff began on Saturday on trading partners, including allies importing more American goods than their own products exported to the US

Taxes on allies with trade surplus have drawn the rage of Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat of Virginia. “Why were they banged in the first place?” he asked Greer, yelling.

Trump has exempted medicines, oil and gas, critical minerals and semiconductors from his new taxation. According to An, these imports are worth $665 billion analysis A think tank from the Atlantic Council, focusing on US diplomacy.

Taxation has enacted 25% national security collection of Trump’s previously enacted foreign steel and aluminum, as well as emergency tariffs of 20% on Chinese imports and 10% to 25% on Canadian and Mexican products.

“A purposeless, chaotic tariff scandal”

Sen. Ron Wyden, a top Democrat on the committee, announced at the hearing that he plans to quickly track the resolution “to end global tariffs involving American families and business members on both sides of the aisle.”

“Donald Trump’s aimless, chaotic tariff spree has proven unquestionable that Congress is giving the administrative sector too much constitutional power over international trade. It’s time to regain that power,” the Oregon Democrats said in a statement.

Committee Chairman Mike Krapo has expressed optimism that Trump’s tariff agenda will ultimately boost American industry.

“Members and the public have questions and concerns about recent tariff behavior. That’s fine. You should think about the impact of tariffs and ask questions,” said Crapo, an Idaho Republican.

When people “contextualize” Trump’s tariffs, “therefore the actual headlines become a fundamental change in trade policy since President Trump’s inauguration.

The Oklahomans were worried

However, other senators wanted more guarantees to small business owners who were contacting them for answers about the sudden economic disruption.

Sen. James Lankford told Greer he heard from a member of Oklahoma who bought it from China to Vietnam after Trump’s first administration targeted China with tariffs. Currently, the company is worried about the 46% tax it has to pay on imports from Vietnam.

“Do you have a timeline you’re dealing with?” the Republican asked Greer.

The trade representative said more than 50 countries, including Vietnam, have reached out to attack the new trade agreement.

“We don’t have a special timeline set up on it,” Greer said. “All I can say is that I’m moving as quickly as possible.”

“Timepieces are important to them,” Lankford said.

Lankford then asked whether industries, including Oklahoma clothing manufacturers, could apply for an exemption from import tax on products that can only be purchased from overseas.

“I know I want to have more diversification (the market) in the long run. In the short term, they don’t have another option. How are you going to handle that?” Lankford said.

Greer replied. “Senator, the President, along with me and others, makes it clear with others that I’m not going to exclude or exempt you, especially given the nature of your actions. If you have Swiss cheese in your action, that could undermine the overall point.”

Warner got heated during his interrogation with Greer and said he had heard from Wall Street that the businessman on Tuesday “deemed a good day for hospice.”

“There are 800,000 small businesses in Virginia, and these tariffs will run through them,” Warner said.

The EU and other countries respond

The European Union is scheduled to vote for a targeted list of American imports on Wednesday. Trump has announced a 20% collection of EU products as part of his “liberation day” plan.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks at 17% tariffs from Trump. It was promised At Monday’s Oval Office Meeting, his country will make trade with the US “very quickly” uniform

Trump wrote on social media on Tuesday morning that he had a “great call” with South Korean representative president Han Duck So. Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on South Korea export Mostly in the US, which includes cars, auto parts and electric batteries.

“Their top team is on a plane heading to the US and things look good,” Trump wrote on his true social platform.

Comment came on the day Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent, who said he would lead negotiations with Japan, which faces a 24% tax. Mainly Americans Import Cars, auto parts, and construction vehicles from Japan.

The negotiation outlook led to Japan’s stocks rising overnight after flagging tariff uncertainty.

Last updated at 2:48pm, April 8, 2025