OPINION:
Tariffs, like taxes, raise revenue for the government. But they differ. A tax is an impost you have to pay; a tariff is not. You don’t have to pay it if you don’t buy tariffed goods. Moreover, unlike a sales tax, no tariff is paid when you buy something else. Any adult with a sixth-grade education can see this difference. But it apparently eludes eminent legal expert Andrew Napolitano, who calls tariffs taxes (“Trump’s tariffs raise constitutional questions about presidential taxation power,” Web, April 9,” Web, April 10). Scoreboard: Common sense: 1. Eminent legal expert: 0.
I’m sure Mr. Napolitano is not being dishonest. He’s not a Democrat. His error most likely comes from wishing that Congress had the last word on this matter. Alas, the executive branch has always had sole authority, since tariffs implement foreign policy, its constitutional domain.
Foreign policy is also why the executive branch may not always show its cards on tariffs. Transparency can wait when we have a president who knows how to play cards.
JOHN S. MASON JR.
Irvington, Virginia
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