Offhand, yes, this looks legal, under section 22 of the Trade Act of 1974. Such tariffs, however, are limited to 150 days and a maximum rate of 15%.
> SEC. 122. BALANCE-OF-PAYMENTS AUTHORITY.
> (a) Whenever fundamental international payments problems
> require special import measures to restrict imports—
> (1) to deal with large and serious United States balanceof-payments deficits,
> (2) to prevent an imminent and significant depreciation of
> the dollar in foreign exchange markets, or
> (3) to cooperate with other countries in correcting an international balance-> of-payments disequilibrium,
> the President shall proclaim, for a period not exceeding 150 days
> (unless such period is extended by Act of Congress)—
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-10384/pdf/COMPS-10...
search for "SEC. 122." to find it quickly.
None of these seem to apply and I am not a lawyer, but if they do not apply then, why would the president have the power of taxation when that is given to the legislative branch not executive branch.
Not clear to me why these new tariffs would be on better footing than the last and the last never seemed to be on good footing.
Trump is taking an law that says "You can do X if Y" and saying "I can do X"
150 days thing is just moving the goal posts.
> Trump is taking an law that says "You can do X if Y" and saying "I can do X"
I think it's more like going 70mph downtown because there's a sign saying "if onn an interstate you can do 70mph" -- the "if on an interstate" is pretty important there!