Trump Expands Tariffs Following GOP Lawmakers' State Lobbying

President Donald Trump has expanded U.S. tariffs, including broadening steel and aluminum duties to over 400 products and initiating an investigation into furniture imports that may lead to new tariffs within 50 days. These trade actions are heavily influenced by lobbying from Republican lawmakers seeking to protect manufacturers in their home states ahead of key Senate races, notably in North Carolina, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Senators and representatives such as Bernie Moreno and Mike Kelly successfully advocated for tariffs on steel-based products like washing machines, refrigerators, and electrical steel laminations to support local companies like Whirlpool Corp. and Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. This tariff expansion aligns with Trump's political strategy to bolster GOP prospects by emphasizing protectionist trade policies. Meanwhile, Pakistan faces a 19% ad-valorem tariff imposed by the U.S., prompting Pakistani officials to seek special incentives and formulate trade negotiation strategies to mitigate the impact. These developments underscore the growing use of tariffs as tools for both domestic political advantage and international trade negotiation.