At a tense Senate hearing on Wednesday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick came under fire from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers frustrated with the Trump administration’s escalating trade tactics.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) confronted Lutnick over the administration’s reluctance to accept zero-tariff agreements, using Vietnam as an example. Vietnam is one of more than 60 countries that could soon face steep tariff hikes unless it strikes a deal with the U.S. before July. Kennedy pressed Lutnick on whether the administration would agree to a reciprocal, tariff-free arrangement.

Lutnick flatly rejected the idea. “Absolutely not. That would be the silliest thing we could do,” he said, asserting that Vietnam serves as a conduit for Chinese goods trying to bypass U.S. tariffs.

​​“Why are you negotiating trade deals then?” Kennedy asked. “You’re trying to get other countries to lower their trade, their tariffs and trade barriers in return for us lowering ours. That’s called reciprocity.” 

“Of course,” Lutnick said in response. 

“Are you or are you not seeking reciprocity in these deals?” Kennedy asked. 

“We are absolutely seeking reciprocity with respect to things that can be reciprocal,” Lutnick said before being cut off by Kennedy.

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“You just said if a country came to you and offered the ultimate reciprocity, no tariff, no trade barriers, in return for doing us the same, you would reject that.”

The Louisiana Senator also raised constitutional concerns, invoking the “major questions doctrine,” which asserts that significant policy decisions — such as the imposition of tariffs — should be made by Congress, not the executive branch. The doctrine has become a legal cornerstone in ongoing challenges to the administration’s trade authority. In response, Lutnick said he was unfamiliar with the “major questions doctrine.”