Trump Allies Push New Tariff Weapon to Punish Trade Deficit Nations

Trump backs a Senate bill that would grant him sharper tariff powers over countries with trade deficits, weeks after the Supreme Court struck down his universal duties.

First Published: August 6, 2026, 12:55 PM ET

WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump amplified a Senate push to arm the presidency with a new tariff weapon aimed at countries that run trade deficits with the United States.

The measure, the Trade Deficit Elimination Act, would build a congressional framework letting Trump impose, raise, lower, suspend or modify duties on nations flagged for lopsided trade, according to foxnews. Senator Rick Scott, the Florida Republican leading the bill, would empower U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to compile an annual watch list of “trade deficit economies,” according to foxnews.

“That means we can’t let other countries rip us off,” Scott said in a statement to Fox News Digital, according to foxnews.

The bill seeks to rebuild tariff authority the Supreme Court dismantled earlier this year. The court ruled Trump lacked power to impose universal duties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, according to foxnews. The framework would give the president congressional cover under Article 1, Section 8, the constitutional clause governing foreign commerce.

Trump shared a news link about the effort without added comment. Here is the full post on truthsocial: “Trump allies push to arm president with new tariff weapon to punish countries “ripping off” America: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-allies-push-arm-president-new-tariff-weapon-punish-countries-ripping-off-america” by mentioning the source (see foxnews) on August 6, 2026 at 4:38 PM ET.

This is Trump’s 9th message released today, and the last post was 32 minutes ago, and it is not part of a thread. On average, Trump produces 18 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 8 of his 431 posts over the last 30 days classified as tariff posts.

Stakes run in both directions for American households and industries. Exporters and manufacturers who compete with foreign goods stand to gain protection, while importers, retailers and consumers who rely on cheaper foreign products could face higher prices. The bill exempts products deemed critical to U.S. supply chains, national security or where alternative sources are unavailable, according to foxnews.

The timing follows a sharp reversal for the administration’s trade agenda. Scott’s announcement came one day after the Trump administration refunded $100 million in tariff revenue collected during the president’s “liberation day” duties, according to foxnews. The refunds followed the Supreme Court decision that voided the emergency-powers basis for those tariffs.

For the average U.S. reader, the fight over tariff authority shapes the price of imported cars, electronics, clothing and groceries. Duties raise the landed cost of foreign goods, and importers often pass those costs to shoppers at the register.

This has happened before. Congress has repeatedly delegated tariff authority to presidents, from the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934 through the Trade Act of 1974, which armed the executive to retaliate against unfair trade. The Scott bill would add a fresh statutory channel distinct from the emergency powers the court rejected.

The next decision rests with Congress. The bill has drawn senators Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Tim Sheehy of Montana as co-sponsors, according to foxnews. No date for a committee vote or floor action has been announced.

Tariff fights between Congress and the presidency are as old as the republic itself. The Tariff of 1828, branded the “Tariff of Abominations,” pushed South Carolina to declare federal duties null within its borders during the 1832 Nullification Crisis, according to ap.org. President Andrew Jackson answered with the Force Bill and a compromise tariff in 1833. That deal defused a standoff that had brought the nation to the edge of armed conflict and reshaped how future presidents wielded trade power.