RELEASE: Gottheimer Votes to Rein in Trump’s Costly Tariff Taxes

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation to counter President Trump’s reckless tariffs on Canada, a critical step toward protecting families and small businesses getting crushed by rising costs.

“Hard-working Jersey families shouldn’t be blindsided by higher prices from President Trump’s reckless tariffs — they don’t need a new $1,700 tariff tax slapped on top of everything else,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “From the beginning, I have been laser-focused on making life more affordable for Jersey families. These tariffs have jacked up prices on everyday goods and have punished our small businesses and their customers. That’s not tough on trade — it’s tough on Jersey families. Enough is enough.”

This week’s legislation comes as President Trump’s tariff whiplash has wreaked havoc on the economy, causing widespread uncertainty for families and small businesses. It also builds on Gottheimer’s longstanding opposition to the tariff tax and his work in Congress to increase transparency and accountability around tariff decisions that hurt consumers.

Gottheimer has introduced multiple pieces of legislation since the President’s tariffs went into place in 2025, which would protect Jersey families, small businesses, and farmers from higher costs and make life more affordable, including: 

• The Tariff Impact Act — will require the independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to review the economic impact of any future tariffs before they can go into place.

• The Reclaiming Congressional Trade Authority Act — will require the President to submit a clear strategy to Congress to justify imposing tariffs for emergency purposes. 

Independent economic research estimates that the price increases from tariffs in 2025 amounted to the equivalent of roughly $1,700 in lost household income per family — a new tax on families already facing high costs of living.

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