WATCH: Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman gets booed as she defends Trump's tariffs and lies about the economic reality that h

One of the folks in the audience is asking about who sets tariffs.
Big auditorium but not many folks attending from the clip I see.


WATCH: Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman gets booed as she defends Trump's tariffs and lies about the economic reality that her own constituents are facing.

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From google:
In the US, the power to set tariffs is primarily vested in
Congress, as explicitly stated in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. This grants Congress the authority to "lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises," a category that includes tariffs.
However, this power isn't exclusively exercised by Congress. Historically, and increasingly in recent decades, Congress has delegated some of its tariff-setting authority to the President through various statutes. This has led to a situation where both branches play a role in shaping US tariff policy within a global trade framework that includes commitments made under organizations like the WTO.
For instance, the Reciprocal Tariff Act of 1934 delegated the President the power to negotiate trade agreements and reduce tariffs. More recently, Presidents have utilized broad authorities to implement tariffs, such as Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (which allows tariffs to address national security concerns) and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). However, the use of such authority by presidents, especially without direct congressional approval, has faced scrutiny and legal challenges, raising questions about the separation of powers and the extent of delegated authority.

Therefore, while the initial and constitutional power to set tariffs rests with Congress, a significant portion of this authority has been delegated to the President through legislative action. This creates a dynamic where Congress can influence tariff policy through legislation, set negotiating goals, and potentially challenge or restrict presidential actions, while the President uses delegated authority to implement and adjust tariffs in response to economic or geopolitical considerations.