ending across-the-board tariffs
End across-the-board tariffs.
Occurrences
introduced the Reclaim Trade Powers Act, legislation to end the President's latest 10 percent tariffs on most goods by repealing Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974
Evidence
Her 2020 presidential campaign plan said that, as President, Klobuchar would "review all international tariffs in place as of 2021" as part of a rural export strategy.
Klobuchar said the Senate passed her bipartisan bill with Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner to undo President Trump's across-the-board tariffs on Canadian goods.
In Senate debate on S.J.Res.37, Klobuchar said she co-led the resolution to terminate the declaration used to impose across-the-board tariffs on Canadian imports under IEEPA.
The Supreme Court held: "IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs."
The proclamation imposed a 10 percent ad valorem duty on articles imported into the United States, effective February 24, 2026, continuing through July 24, 2026, unless changed or extended by Congress.
Klobuchar joined colleagues to introduce the Reclaim Trade Powers Act, legislation to end the President's latest 10 percent tariffs on most goods by repealing Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
The June 1, 2026 White House proclamation says the administration was still modifying and extending section 232 tariff regimes for aluminum, steel, copper, and related derivative products, with new duty levels taking effect on June 8, 2026 and continuing through 2027.
GovInfo records that S. 4049 was introduced in the Senate on March 11, 2026, read twice, and referred to the Finance Committee; the bill would repeal section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, the authority used for balance-of-payments import surcharges.
The White House said on June 1, 2026 that it was further adjusting existing section 232 tariff regimes on aluminum, steel, and copper, and that the modified duties would take effect on June 8, 2026. The proclamation states the tariff regimes had already been established and were being expanded, including 50 percent duties on products made of those metals.
Klobuchar said she joined the Reclaim Trade Powers Act to end the president’s latest 10 percent tariffs on most goods by repealing Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The release says the administration had invoked Section 122 after the Supreme Court ruling and was planning to raise the tariff to 15 percent.
The proclamation says existing section 232 tariff regimes for aluminum, steel, and copper were modified, including prior 50 percent duties on metal products and new modifications effective June 8, 2026, with some additional duties continuing through December 31, 2027.
The proclamation imposed a temporary 10 percent ad valorem import surcharge on all articles imported into the United States except listed exceptions, effective February 24, 2026, and continuing through July 24, 2026 unless suspended, modified, terminated, or extended by Congress.
Klobuchar said she joined the Reclaim Trade Powers Act to end the President's latest 10 percent tariffs on most goods by repealing Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, after the administration imposed a 10 percent surcharge on nearly all imports and planned to raise it to 15 percent.
GovInfo lists S. 4049, the Reclaim Trade Powers Act, as introduced in the Senate on March 11, 2026, read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Its full title is to repeal section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, and Amy Klobuchar is listed as a cosponsor.
The Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs, addressing the drug-trafficking and reciprocal tariffs imposed under that statute.
The 2020 presidential campaign plan framed the trade pledge as action Klobuchar would take as President, including a national rural export strategy and review of international tariffs in place as of 2021.
Assessments
Klobuchar did not deliver the promised outcome. The pledge was framed as presidential action, an office she did not win, and across-the-board tariff regimes or broad import surcharges remained active in 2025-2026. She did take concrete later-term legislative action, including backing bills and resolutions to end broad tariff measures, but the evidence shows introduction, committee referral, or Senate passage of limited measures rather than enactment or full termination of across-the-board tariffs. Because there was serious legislative effort without delivery, this is a failed promise with an effort badge.
Klobuchar did not deliver the promised outcome of ending across-the-board tariffs. The strongest evidence shows broad tariff regimes remained in force and were expanded in 2026, including a temporary 10 percent import surcharge on most goods and continued Section 232 metal tariffs. She did make serious later-term legislative efforts as a senator, including joining the Reclaim Trade Powers Act to repeal the authority behind the new broad surcharge and co-leading successful Senate action against Canadian tariffs, but those efforts did not become law and did not end across-the-board tariffs overall. The Supreme Court's separate ruling against IEEPA tariffs also does not justify full credit because it was a judicial intervention, not her delivered policy outcome, and broad replacement tariffs still followed.
Klobuchar’s promise was made in her 2020 presidential campaign context, where she said she would review or end tariffs as President. She did later co-sponsor and advance legislation aimed at repealing tariff authority, and the Senate even passed a bill on Canadian tariffs, but the broader across-the-board tariff regime was not ended and tariffs were still active and being expanded in 2026. That is a serious attempt without full delivery, so this is not fulfilled.
The promise was not fully delivered. Klobuchar materially advanced efforts against broad tariffs, including co-leading a Senate-passed resolution targeting Canadian import tariffs and later introducing legislation to repeal the new 10 percent broad tariff authority. But the Canada action addressed only a subset and was not shown enacted, the broader IEEPA tariff invalidation came from the Supreme Court rather than her office, and a replacement across-the-board surcharge remained in effect in 2026. This supports serious effort but not fulfillment of ending across-the-board tariffs.