If Ted Cruz and John Cornyn actually stood up for Texans, they could stop Trump's Mexican trade tariff madness

If Congress had any reason to start an impeachment inquiry, forget about allegations of Russian collusion or obstruction of justice. Trump's never-ending tariff folly on the back of specious national security claims is an abuse of power deserving of drastic measures.

The President’s latest threat of imposing tariffs on all goods imported into the United States from Mexico to address illegal border crossings is a reckless and counterproductive scheme that will help no one and will especially hurt the state of Texas.

Texas imported $107bn in goods from its neighbor to the south in 2018. Trump's threat of a 25 per cent tariff amounts to a $27bn tax increase. Texas employs 387,000 people because of trade between the Lone Star state and Mexico.

Not only would the tariffs hurt Texas and the rest of the United States, but they would also wreak havoc on the Mexican economy and only increase the flow of people illegally crossing the border, not reduce it. It's evident President Trump didn't think this through. Not only is the idea ridiculous on its face, but the timeline of the proposed plan is absurd.

The top tariff rate of 25 per cent will kick in on 1 October 2019. So, according to the wisdom of the US's chief executive, Mexico has four months to do — what, exactly? Well, we don't know, as all we have is Trump's word-salad tweets saying tariffs will remain in place until "the Illegal immigration problem is remedied." That's nonsensical, because what is the definition of "remedied" anyway?

All Republicans should stand in unison against the threat, but two of them could lead the way in putting an end to this madness: Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.

Sadly, since Trump's inauguration, both Cornyn and Cruz have bent the knee in response to their president’s abhorrent trade policies. But the time is ripe for them to behave like the conservatives they sell themselves as to constituents. They should heed the words of William F Buckley, who famously said, "A conservative is someone who stands athwart history, yelling 'Stop!,' at a time when no one is inclined to do so or to have much patience with those who so urge it."

Time and time again, Republicans have adapted Trump's stance of utilizing tariffs as a negotiating tool, but the results from the previous two years of tariff asininity are in, and it's only harmed the very people Trump said it would help. Trump's tariffs on China have forced him into a position of providing bailouts at a price tag of $16bn to assist farmers affected.

Texas will almost certainly feel similar pain. The move is also sure to affect approval of his NAFTA revamp, dubbed the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. While Trump overstates how much different the new agreement is from the old one, it is an improvement and a rare legislative victory for him. But he seems to be content to blow it up in the face of what comes off as another temper tantrum.

Cruz and Cornyn have a choice to make. They can go along with Trump's idea and watch as it impacts their state or they can band together with other Republicans (and some Democrats) by putting a stop to this overreach and reclaim congressional power over tariffs.

Neither of them would tolerate such a move if a Democrat proposed the same plan. If Trump feels he can get away with recklessly invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act any time his impetuousness rears its ugly head, then why have a legislative branch of government at all?

Trade and immigration are two separate and distinct issues. Trump's attempt to use one as a means of leveraging influence over another is not an adherence to the "art of the deal." It's a decision that will have an enormously harmful effect not only on the US economy and immigration but also on our relationship with Mexico.

Will Ted Cruz and John Cornyn do anything to put an end to this silliness? The clock is already ticking.