Washington, DC – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on introduction of his resolution to terminate the false “national emergency” President Trump announced to impose tariffs on Brazil. Original cosponsors include Representatives Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Joaquin Castro, Greg Stanton, and Dina Titus. 

“Donald Trump’s massive 50% tariffs on Brazil are a textbook example of his reckless, politically motivated trade war. These tariffs have nothing to do with U.S. national security and everything to do with protecting Jair Bolsonaro, who is now facing prosecution for his role in a failed coup attempt in 2022.  

“As a result, American families are paying more at the grocery store, American workers are at risk of losing tens of thousands of jobs, and relations with Brazil – one of our closest partners in the hemisphere – are in tatters. These tariffs are not only unjustified, they are self defeating.  

“Already, Trump’s global trade war is driving up costs and slowing the economy, and the full brunt of these taxes are still to come. It is time for Republicans to stand with their constituents, not Donald Trump, and join Democrats in putting an end to these taxes on American families by joining my Resolution to terminate these false national emergencies. If the Republican leadership again uses procedural rules to prevent this Resolution from moving to the floor, they will be just as responsible for this tax as Donald Trump.” 

A PDF copy of the Resolution can be found here. 

Meeks has also introduced Resolutions terminating the other false emergency declarations President Trump has used to impose Tariffs, including on Canada, Mexico, and the “Liberation Day” tariffs on much of the world. The Resolutions are required by law to be brought for a vote on the floor, but Republican leadership in Congress has attempted to delay those votes fearing a vote.