RELEASE: Gottheimer Fights Back Against Trump’s Reckless Tariffs That Will Drive Up Prices on Families and Wreak Havoc on the Economy

Above: Gottheimer announces new action to protect against President Trump’s reckless tariffs. 

WESTWOOD, NJ — Today, March 31, 2025, ahead of President Trump’s sweeping tariffs taking effect on Wednesday, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined local business leaders in Westwood to announce new action to protect Jersey families, small businesses, and farmers from higher costs and to make life more affordable. Gottheimer announced new legislation that would require the President to submit a clear strategy to Congress to justify imposing tariffs for emergency purposes.

The President recently announced additional tariffs on every nation, including U.S. allies and trading partners.

Video of Gottheimer’s announcement can be found here.

“In just a few days, on April 3, President Trump’s proposed sweeping tariffs will go into effect — imposing, in effect, a huge new tax of about $2,000 a year on Jersey families and businesses. When asked about the impact of auto prices on our wallets, Trump said he ‘couldn’t care less.’ Instead, he wants to double down on reckless and chaotic policies. None of this makes our country stronger — it only raises costs across the board,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).“When it comes to tariffs, we need a targeted approach that doesn’t put the bullseye on our own economy. From the beginning, I have been laser-focused on making life more affordable for Jersey families. The President’s planned sweeping tariffs, including on our key trading partners and allies, will do just the opposite.”

The Crushing Effects of President Trump’s Reckless Tariffs:

• Data shows that President Trump’s tariffs will mark the largest tax hike on families in a generation — imposing a new tax of about $2,000 a year on Jersey families and businesses.
• According to the Bipartisan Tax Foundation, the U.S. economy is set to lose 600,000 jobs due to Trump’s tariffs. 
• Last week, the Federal Reserve released new data predicting lower growth and higher inflation for this year — in what Chair Powell has called “tariff inflation.”
  • Goldman Sachs estimates the economy will grow this quarter at an annual rate of just 0.6%, down from a rate of 2.4% at the end of last year. 
• President Trump’s tariffs on cars could increase new-car prices anywhere from $3,500 to more than $12,000. 
• The President has also threatened a 10%tariff on Venezuelan and Canadian oil, which is estimated to raise gas prices by 20 cents a gallon.
• Canada has already announced 25% reciprocal tariffs on U.S. goods.
  • New Jersey sells more goods to Canada than its next three largest foreign markets combined — totaling $8.4 billion in exports annually, all of which are now under threat. 
• Tariffs will cost American farmers billions of dollars, between an expected drop in exports as high as 10% and the skyrocketing cost of fertilizer.
  • 85% of fertilizer is imported from Canada. 
• 64% of Americans agree the President is not doing nearly enough to lower prices.

Gottheimer’s Plan to Fight Abusive Tariffs:

• First, Gottheimer is introducing the Reclaiming Congressional Trade Authority Act, to require the President to submit a clear strategy to Congress to justify imposing tariffs for emergency purposes. 
• Second, Gottheimer is helping introduce the Prevent Tariff Abuse Act, which clarifies current law to make it explicitly clear that the President cannot impose tariffs under the guise of a national emergency without congressional approval.
• Gottheimer also joined 46 of his colleagues in a letter calling on President Trump to reconsider the 25% tariffs on imported building materials from Canada and Mexico.
  • These tariffs will only further inflame housing costs and prevent the construction of new homes.
• Gottheimer is announcing a new online portal where Jersey families and small businesses can make their voices heard on how tariffs are hurting them.
  • Gottheimer will send these comments to the White House and U.S. Trade Representative to help ensure Jersey voices are heard. 

Gottheimer was joined by Westwood Councilwoman Erin Collins, New Jersey Business and Industry Association Deputy Chief of Government Affairs Raymond Cantor, and Judith Fleischer of the New Jersey Manufacturers Extension Program (NJMEP).

Below: Gottheimer joins local leaders and small business owners to announce new action against President Trump’s reckless tariffs.

Gottheimer’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:

Good morning. In just a few days, on April 3, President Trump’s proposed sweeping tariffs will go into effect — imposing, in effect, a huge new tax, of at least $2,000 a year, on Jersey families and businesses, like the ones behind me here in Westwood. Just last night the President announced reciprocal tariffs on every nation — including every ally and trading partner. These new tariffs will destroy jobs and set our economy back, at a time when we must do everything we can to make life more affordable for families. 

These tariffs will include a 25 percent tariff on all imported cars, light trucks, and auto parts. These tariffs could increase new-car prices anywhere from $3,500 to more than $12,000. If you live in Jersey, you know how hard it can be to go to work or get to our great local businesses without a car. These tariffs will mean it’ll cost more not just to purchase your car, but also to repair it if something breaks. The President has also threatened a 10 percent tariff on Venezuelan and Canadian oil, which is estimated to raise our gas prices by 20 cents a gallon. 

The President has already imposed tariffs on aluminum and steel, and other building materials, certain goods from Canada, like lumber and produce, and all goods from China. His new tariffs will include a 25 percent tariff on our closest trading partners, Canada and Mexico. Canada has already announced reciprocal 25 percent tariffs of their own on U.S. goods. New Jersey sells more goods to Canada than its next three largest foreign markets combined — totaling $8.4 billion in exports annually, all of which are now under threat.

Mexico is our largest food supplier, making up nearly two-thirds of U.S. vegetable imports and about half of U.S. fruit and tree nut imports in 2021. Egg prices already went up 53% from where they were a year ago. 85 percent of fertilizer is imported from Canada. So, tariffs will also cost Jersey and American farmers billions of dollars, between an expected drop in exports as high as 10 percent and the cost of fertilizer going up.

These tariffs will mark the largest tax hike on our families in a generation, and will include reciprocal tariffs on all nations. Trump’s tariffs are expected to cost our country 600,000 jobs, including jobs right here in Jersey. 

Some experts have said that tariffs could increase the median cost of a home by $21,000. And given current projections, investment bank Goldman Sachs now estimates the economy will grow this quarter at an annual rate of just 0.6%, down from a rate of 2.4% at the end of last year.

I thought President Trump wanted to create jobs and make life more affordable. This will do just the opposite. 64 percent of Americans reportedly agree he’s not doing nearly enough to lower prices.

The Federal Reserve last week released new data predicting lower growth and higher inflation for this year — in what Fed Chair Powell has called “tariff inflation.” In fact, one survey said that the economy now has a thirteen percent higher chance of a recession.

Yet, over the weekend, when asked about the impact of auto prices on our wallets, Trump said he — and I quote — “couldn’t care less.”  Instead, he wants to double down on reckless and chaotic policies. None of this makes our country stronger — it only raises costs across the board.

The President’s tariff plan is just a new tax that will whack hardworking families, as I said, with at least $2,000 a year in costs. That’s a direct hit to Jersey pocketbooks. As the former head of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP) said of sweeping tariffs during the first Trump Administration: “Workers get laid off, the prices go up” and companies move. That’s exactly what happened.

The craziest part is that President Trump is imposing all of these tariffs, without congressional approval, under the guise of a national emergency.

When it comes to tariffs, we need a targeted approach that doesn’t put the bullseye on our own economy.  I don’t get the strategy.  It’s one thing to target our adversaries like Iran and China with new tariffs, but it’s another to go after our allies and key trading partners who we rely on for goods that we don’t manufacture or grow here right now. We know that will have a huge impact on America’s wallets. And, in the typical Trump fashion, there’s no plan – it’s all chaos. No attempt to do what all presidents have done — make the pitch to the American people, and Congress, which is in charge of trade, according to the Constitution. 

I think we would like to understand how this will work. How we plan to rebuild our manufacturing base and create more jobs, which I obviously support, but in a way that Americans can afford. Massive turbulence and uncertainty will wreak havoc on our economy and drive up prices — and that’s unacceptable.  

That’s why today I am announcing new action to help ensure tariffs are only deployed in a responsible way — not target the success of our families and small businesses.

First, I’m introducing the Reclaiming Congressional Trade Authority Act, to require the President to submit a clear strategy to Congress to justify imposing tariffs for emergency purposes. As I said, Congress has the constitutional authority to regulate foreign trade. So, if the President wants to impose sweeping tariffs that will impact millions of hardworking families and small businesses, he better have a good justification for doing it. And I’ll fight tooth and nail to ensure hardworking families don’t pay the price for the President’s reckless decisions.

Second, the President cannot use vague threats of national security to endanger the financial security of Jersey families. Canada is not our enemy — there is no imminent national security threat. I am helping introduce the Prevent Tariff Abuse Act, which clarifies current law to make it explicitly clear that the President cannot impose tariffs under the guise of a national emergency without congressional approval. We should be responding to hostile foreign adversaries, not crushing our families and small businesses with reckless tariffs on our allies.

I also joined 46 of my colleagues in a letter calling on President Trump to reconsider the 25 percent tariffs on imported building materials from Canada and Mexico. These tariffs will only further inflame housing costs and prevent the construction of new homes. I joined Representative Rutherford in reintroducing the bipartisan, bicameral HELPER Act to help lower the barriers to homeownership for those who devote their lives and careers to service — our cops, paramedics, firefighters, and teachers. These tariffs will do the exact opposite: making it harder for those who protect our homes to own one of their own.

Finally, any proposed tariffs must be targeted, not applied broadly without consideration for the nuances of — and impact on American jobs — including those in New Jersey. So, I’m announcing a new online portal where Jersey families and small businesses can make their voice heard on how these tariffs are hurting them. I will take these comments and send them to the White House and U.S. Trade Representative — and if they’re smart, they will listen to our families and small businesses. This comment portal will be available starting this week at Gottheimer.house.gov/tariffs. Please know that I will never stop fighting to ensure your voice is heard in the halls of Congress.

We need to defend our Jersey Values and get costs and taxes down to support our families and businesses. We must expand the Child Tax Credit, fully restore the SALT deduction to give families a much-needed tax cut, and lower utility bills and get gas and energy costs back down.

From the beginning, I have been laser-focused on making life more affordable for Jersey families. The President’s planned sweeping tariffs, including on our key trading partners, will do just the opposite. They will drive costs up.

I know that if we have a clear strategy to lower costs and help our families and small businesses, work together, and stand up to extremism, here in the greatest country in the world, our best days will always be ahead of us.

Thank you. God bless you, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

###