Key Points:

• Sen. Ted Cruz opposes prolonged tariffs imposed by President Trump, warning they may harm the economy.
• Cruz emphasizes that tariffs are essentially a tax on consumers and advocates for a temporary measure.
• The senator suggests that favorable trade negotiations could lead to reduced tariffs globally.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has publicly voiced his opposition to the high tariffs recently announced by President Donald Trump, cautioning of their potential negative impact on the American economy and consumers. During an interview with Fox Business host Larry Kudlow, Cruz stated, "I am not a fan of tariffs" and warned against assuming that the recent tariffs would be lasting.

These tariffs, referred to as “Liberation Day” tariffs, include a sweeping 10% tax on imports and greater rates targeted at particular countries, such as a 20% tariff on the European Union and up to 34% on imports from China. Cruz remarked that if, as a result, trading partners reduce their tariffs on U.S. goods and services, it could prove beneficial. He stressed, however, that the scenario of retaliatory tariff increases would represent "a bad outcome for America."

Cruz is not alone in his concerns; voice among both economists and fellow Republican legislators has been growing against Trump's aggressive trade policies, which some see as straying from the GOP's historical commitment to free trade. Echoing his sentiments, Cruz noted, "Tariffs are a tax on consumers, and I'm not a fan of jacking up taxes on American consumers" HuffPost.

As worries circulate that the tariffs could exacerbate inflation and stress the economy, Cruz expressed hope that they would be short-lived and leverage lower tariffs globally. Economists have indicated that these new trade barriers could lead to a recession, with predictions that the risk of a global downturn has heightened significantly following Trump’s announcement Newsweek.

In light of these developments, a group of Republican senators recently backed a resolution seeking to limit the administration's tariff powers, reflecting a growing bipartisan concern among lawmakers regarding the long-term implications of such economic policies The Hill.