VIDEO: Peters Presses U.S. Trade Representative on Trump Administration’s Harmful Tariff Policies, Upcoming Trade Negotiations

WASHINGTON, DC - During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) pressed U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the Trump Administration's chaotic tariff policies and the impacts on Michigan workers and manufacturers. Peters specifically questioned Greer on the Administration's tariffs on Canada, Michigan's largest trading partner.

"I'm absolutely focused on addressing the threat of fentanyl...any amount of fentanyl crossing the border is too high. I think we all agree on that. But in reality, very little of the fentanyl entering the U.S. is actually coming from Canada. So, it is unclear why the Administration has taken such an aggressive action against one of our greatest allies, friends, and trade partners who has certainly demonstrated a willingness to work on a cooperative basis on border security, something I do regularly with our Canadian counterparts," said Peters. "So how can the Administration justify continuing the tariffs... since their main consequences are actually increasing prices for Americans and threatening American businesses?"

To watch the full video of Senator Peters' questioning, click HERE.

During his questioning, Peters also called on Greer to provide clarity on the Administration's objectives during the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and pressed Greer on how the Administration's tariffs on Mexico and Canada could complicate a potential renegotiation of the USMCA.

"Mr. Greer, as you are undoubtedly aware, as part of the USMCA trade agreement, the United States, Mexico, and Canada agreed to review and potentially renegotiate the terms of the agreement beginning in July 2026," said Peters. "Are you concerned that the Administration's unprecedented usage of certain emergency powers, specifically the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada will make it less likely that those countries will be willing to make changes to the trade agreement that are advantageous to our domestic industries and workforce?"

Peters has repeatedly spoken out against the Trump Administration's chaotic tariff policy. In September, Peters cosponsored the Small Business RELIEF Act to exempt small businesses in Michigan and across the country from President Trump's global baseline reciprocal tariffs and provide refunds to the small businesses that were forced to pay them. Peters also took to the Senate floor in April to oppose the President's so-called "reciprocal tariffs," calling them a "national sales tax" on hardworking Americans. Earlier this year, Peters also sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick demanding that he immediately work with the President to reverse the tariffs. Peters visited Walker Tool & Die in Grand Rapids in May to discuss the impact of President Trump's tariffs and hear directly from manufacturers and workers in the region about how Michigan companies are navigating the current tariff policies.

###

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Tweet