Blumenthal Urges Tariff Transparency Amid Trump Administration's Planned Tariffs on Mexico & Canada

[HARTFORD, CT] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) joined his colleagues in co-sponsoring the Tariff Transparency Act. This legislation would require the United States International Trade Commission to conduct an investigation on the impact of these tariffs, and the threat of these tariffs, on imports from Mexico and Canada.

“The Trump Administration’s proposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico are completely misguided – ultimately resulting in substantial price increases for consumers and intolerable costs on businesses. Here in Connecticut, where we rely on Eastern Canadian hydropower, these tariffs will only serve to drive up energy costs. I’ll continue to fight back against this indiscriminate tax on consumers and push for transparency to expose just how much these actions hurt local economies and hard-working families across the country,” said Blumenthal.

The legislation is led by U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Andy Kim (D-NJ).

Blumenthal has slammed proposed tariffs especially as they will drive up energy prices for Connecticut consumers given that a significant share of Connecticut’s electricity is sourced from Eastern Canadian hydropower. The ten percent to twenty five percent tariffs that are being proposed on energy resources from Canada will directly impact electricity costs. According to an estimate from ISO New England, these taxes could add up to $165 million in annual customer costs. In new letters, Blumenthal demands Trump rescind cost-increasing tariffs and calls on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to block the implementation of tariffs and protect consumers. The letter to the Trump Administration is available here and the letter to FERC is available here.

The full text of the legislation is available here.

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