House Speaker Paul Ryan finally mustered a statement reacting to Trump's new steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the European Union—one already threatening to turn into a trade war. Like every other Paul Ryan statement in the aftermath of a Trump fiasco, it is limp and spineless.
I disagree with this decision. Instead of addressing the real problem in the international trade of these products, today's action targets America's allies when we should be working with them to address the unfair trading practices of countries like China. There are better ways to help American workers and consumers. I intend to keep working with the president on those better options.
What's not in that statement: Any suggestion that Ryan and House Republicans will legislatively block the tariffs against American allies. He'll "disagree" with Trump, but he won't lift a finger to stop him.
The Republican business community may very well eat the party alive over this one. Tax cuts are one thing, but launching a trade war that's going to raise prices and shrink foreign trade is going to punch conservative billionaires like Charles Koch square in the teeth. Will those billionaires be as eager to support Ryan's in-danger House Republicans if House Republicans protect Trump's new trade war? It's going to be fun to find out.