watch now7:2007:20Rep.
Jason Smith: We dered the largest tax cuts and spending reductions in historySquawk BoxHouse Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith said Tuesday he would "respond accordingly" if President Donald Trump's levies are overturned by the Supreme Court, but stopped short of pledging to move them through Congress.The Republican from Missouri said he has worked with the Trump administration "hand in glove" on tariffs, and he himself has "talked with more than 20 different countries in the last two months.""If the courts do upset the apple cart, then we're going to have to respond accordingly, that's what's appriate and what's right," he said on CNBC's "Squawk Box."Smith's s came just hours before the Supreme Court granted a request by the Trump administration to take up its appeal of lower court rulings.
Those rulings found that Trump overstepped his authority when he imposed tariffs on scores of U.S. trade partners earlier this year. The court will consider the appeal on an expedited basis.
Oral arguments are expected to take place in November.
Last month, two lower courts ruled that Trump's invocation of the obscure International Emergency Economic Powers Act to justify imposing tariffs without consulting with Congress exceeded presidential powers.
"Tariffs are a core Congressional power," the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit wrote in its 7-4 ruling last month.But Smith's s sidestepped the question of whether he would actually expend his political capital into trying to pass similar tariffs through the House if the Trump administration ran into trouble.It's difficult to imagine Democrats supporting a tariff bill in the House or the Senate.
But more worrisome than the spect of winning over Democrats — at least for Republican leadership — is that a tariff bill in Congress could divide Republicans.Tariffs are still un with most voters, according to NBC News polling.
This means holding a vote in Congress over tariffs could force Republicans to choose between their constituents, who don't tariffs, and the president, who is very with GOP voters.Read more CNBC coverageIsrael targets top Hamas officials in Qatar strikeWhite House says jobs revision ves Biden economy a ‘disaster,’ BLS is ‘broken,’ Powell was ‘too late’'A colossal train wreck': U.S.
energy chief slams odds of net zero by 2050France's political crisis deepens as another PM is axed: Here's what comes nextIndia urges BRICS to tackle deficits as bloc rallies against U.S.
tariffsTrump tariff refunds could top $1 trillion if Supreme Court finds them illegalTrump Epstein letter and drawing from 'birthday book' releasedFrench prime minister Francois Bayrou ousted in confidence voteTrump loses bid to toss $83.3 million judgment in E.
Jean Carroll defamation caseFrench prime minister faces the axe as lawmakers prepare to hold confidence voteTreasury Secretary Bessent warns of massive refunds if the Supreme Court voids Trump tariffs"There's some very good agreements that's been out there, whether it's with the European Union, the United Kingdom, with Japan, with South Korea, we need to continue to have more of those agreements," he said on CNBC."We need open because 96% ...
of the world's consumers are outside of the United States, it's important that we have open and that we're all being treated fairly," he said.