Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said Thursday that President Donald Trump's ordering an investigation into automobile imports could be an abuse of power.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced late Wednesday he would launch a probe into whether auto imports harm national security after meeting with Trump. The president launched similar investigations earlier this year before announcing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
"I am very concerned about the president abusing the authorities granted to him in Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962," Corker said in a statement released Thursday morning.
"There is no reason to use this provision to consider imposing tariffs on the automobile industry, and this appears to be either an attempt to affect domestic politics ahead of the election or for some other transactional purpose regarding ongoing trade discussions," he continued. "This is a dangerous course and should be abandoned immediately."
Ross said in a statement Wednesday:
"There is evidence suggesting that, for decades, imports from abroad have eroded our domestic auto industry. The Department of Commerce will conduct a thorough, fair, and transparent investigation into whether such imports are weakening our internal economy and may impair the national security."