As Trump’s Trade War Is Exposed As Nothing More Than A Tax On American Families, Leader Schumer And Senate Democrats Demand Answers From Admin Officials On Specifics Of Alleged “Deals” And Capitulation To The PRC

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led Senate Democrats in sending the following letter to top trade officials in the Trump administration demanding answers following the abject disaster of the Trump trade war, seeking clarity on whether Trump is actually making deals or getting played on the world stage.

Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sent the following letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer demanding answers on “Liberation Day 2.0.” For months, President Trump has been waging a chaotic trade war that has raised costs for families, crushed small businesses, and stunted investment. The “deals” that Trump and his administration tout are a sham, with no transparency, accountability, or means of enforcement. Now, Senate Democrats are demanding answers to ensure these deals will benefit American families and not line the pockets of Trump’s billionaire cronies. The Senators also pressed for clarity on the administration relaxing export controls on the flow of critical technologies to the People’s Republic of China, which could damage our national security.

“U.S. trade policy should be focused on bolstering American workers and industries, cracking down on trade cheats like China, and keeping costs low for families and small businesses. President Trump has failed on all counts. And at the same time, President Trump is negotiating away our national security. This administration must end this disaster and provide answers to the American people to be held accountable for the damage that has been done,” the Senators wrote.

The letter is also signed by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mark Warner (D-VA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD).

The full text of the letter can be seen here and below.

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Dear Secretary Bessent, Secretary Lutnick, and Ambassador Greer:

The Trump trade war has been an abject disaster, crushing American families with higher prices and freezing business investment. The administration’s so-called trade “deals” lack any transparency, accountability or means of enforcement. The only certainty is pain for the American people, raising prices for American consumers, hammering small businesses and manufacturers, and roiling financial markets.

Instead of focusing on reducing costs for American families or bolstering American workers, the Trump Administration continues to increase tariff rates on leading U.S. trade partners and allies, claiming it is forestalling even higher tariffs by striking so-called “trade agreements” that, in practice, have not addressed any major trade issues, but instead largely consist of supposed new foreign investment in the United States, with no written documentation of the agreement or how these agreed-upon investments will be tracked.

In an “agreement” announced with Japan on July 22, the president hailed $550 billion in supposed new investment in the United States. Comments from the Japanese government later revealed the real investment amount would likely be less than 2 percent of that figure. In an “agreement” announced with the European Union on July 27, the president claimed $750 billion in new energy purchases and $600 billion in new investment in the United States, but, following the announcement, it became abundantly clear these numbers were unachievable and the commitments non-binding.

The lack of transparency around the terms of these “agreements” is troubling. To the extent any of the promised investment occurs, it is unclear whether the American people will benefit or whether it will become a corrupt slush fund.

1. How do you intend to verify the agreed-upon purchases or investments actually take place?
2. What systems or mechanisms are in place to track the purchase or investments – where and when they are made, in what businesses or industries, and in what form of investment?
3. How will you ensure investments are made in the public interest and not to personally benefit members of this administration?

Meanwhile, as these “agreements” continue to increase tariff rates on U.S. trading partners and allies, raising costs for American families and businesses, President Trump is relaxing or delaying export controls on the flow of critical technologies to the People’s Republic of China, jeopardizing U.S. national security. This surrender to the PRC raises the question of what other concessions have been secretly made by the Administration.

1. Has the administration committed to relaxing, pausing, or forgoing export restrictions on additional products or technologies?
2. What analysis has the administration done on the risks to U.S. national security of relaxing, pausing, or forgoing these export restrictions? How is the administration preventing these critical American technologies from empowering the Chinese military?
3. What commitment has the administration received from the PRC regarding their own export and investment restrictions, including longstanding forced technology transfer abuses, or regarding their attempts to undermine American competitors through state-subsidized industrial overcapacity?

U.S. trade policy should be focused on bolstering American workers and industries, cracking down on trade cheats like China, and keeping costs low for families and small businesses. President Trump has failed on all counts. And at the same time, President Trump is negotiating away our national security. This administration must end this disaster and provide answers to the American people to be held accountable for the damage that has been done.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

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