Powerful, obscure law is basis for Trump 'order' on trade

[left-of-center2012]

President Donald Trump is threatening to use the emergency authority granted by a powerful but obscure federal law to make good on his tweeted “order” to U.S. businesses to cut ties in China amid a spiraling trade war between the two nations.

Trump on Twitter declared American companies “are hereby ordered to immediately start looking for an alternative to China.” He later clarified that he was threatening to make use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in the trade war, raising questions about the wisdom and propriety of making the 1977 act used to target rogue regimes, terrorists and drug traffickers the newest weapon in the clash between the world’s largest economies.

It would mark the latest grasp of authority by Trump, who has claimed widespread powers not sought by his predecessors despite his own past criticism of their use of executive powers.

“For all of the Fake News Reporters that don’t have a clue as to what the law is relative to Presidential powers, China, etc., try looking at the Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977,” Trump tweeted late Friday. “Case closed!” The act gives presidents wide berth in regulating international commerce during times of declared national emergencies. It was not immediately clear how Trump could use the act to force American businesses to move their manufacturing out of China and to the U.S, and Trump’s threat appeared premature — as he has not declared an emergency with respect to China.

Read more: https://www.apnews.com/be18b8619cde4658a418dda4f416968a

[Turbineguy]

1. Somebody found it for him.

That's for sure.

[customerserviceguy]

6. Oh, no doubt

he's got people working overtime (without pay, of course) looking up any possible obscure power of the Executive branch. And he knows he's got the Judicial branch by the short hairs when the lawsuits begin.

[smirkymonkey]

9. Absolutely.

There is no way this ignoramus managed to dig this up on his own. He barely knows what the basic duties of his role are. Is Stephen Miller behind this?

[bitterross]

2. Basically, Trump is creating an emergency so he can declare an emergency.

WAAAAAY! Past time for impeachment.

[Sugar Smack]

3. Oh, this'll go over well.

[Blue_true]

10. He is going to decimate the US economy. For what?

The celebrated heavy manufacturing jobs (appliance manufacture, vehicle manufacture, steel manufacture) he claims will come back are highly automated now, the companies that don't automate have failed or are failing.

[Trueblue Texan]

11. He's doing it because Putin told him to.

Why else would he have done half the crap he’s done that has taken the US down the tubes? It’s been very good for those dictators who want the US to fail.

[Blue_true]

12. In a sick way, he may be doing democrats a favor.

Business has always looked down on democrats, even as democrats have proven by far to be best for the economy.

Now with Trump hitting business in the face with a wad of shit almost daily, democrats can now say to business "You now see what true chaos can be like, now this is what we are going to have you do if you want us to save your asses again". We may actually see business really caring about the futures of their workers.

[mopinko]

4. keep pushin you moron. maybe someone will notice that none of your tariffs

are fucking legal in the first place.
i see no national security threat that includes iphone and cheap toys and clothes.

[HipChick]

8. I for one, won't be paying any additional price..

Still have not upgraded from my iphone 6

[Takket]

5. why doesn't he just ask the international community for sanctions?

if he's so worried about it?

[alwaysinasnit]

7. Yup, I'd like to see that matchup (as in Tim Cook, CEO of Apple and the 4-6 bankruptcies genious

sitting in the White House).