r/politics • u/sweatycat New York • 1d ago

California to Negotiate Trade With Other Countries to Bypass Trump Tariffs

https://www.newsweek.com/california-newsom-trade-trump-tariffs-2055414
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u/wankbollox 1d ago

If Texas can ignore the federal government and make its own immigration policy, then I guess California can make its own trade policy. Seems fair. 

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u/TinFoilBeanieTech 1d ago

States setting their own trade agreements is totally unconstitutional, but we haven't been following that for a while now anyway. I'm hoping the whole west coast can form it's own trade coalition.

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u/jesuisapprenant 1d ago

Tariff powers don’t belong to the executive branch, the executive branch cannot defund programs unilaterally without Congressional approval, felons cannot run for office, the list goes on. 

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u/hypercosm_dot_net 1d ago

I had no idea the tariffs were illegal.

You're right though.

https://reason.com/volokh/2025/04/03/why-trumps-liberation-day-tariffs-are-illegal/

Trump feels he can do anything he wants, because he knows the Republican congress under Johnson isn't going to do a damn thing to stop him.