Seven Republican senators — including Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the Senate’s president pro tempore, and former GOP leader Sen.
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has joined a bipartisan effort to limit former President Trump’s ability to impose steep tariffs without congressional approval.
Grassley and McConnell, along with GOP Sens.. Jerry Moran (Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Thom Tillis (N.C.), Todd Young (Ind.), and Susan Collins (Maine), are backing the Trade Review Act of 2025.
The proposed legislation aims to reassert Congress’s authority over trade policy by requiring lawmakers to approve new or increased tariffs initiated by the president.
Under the bill, the president must notify Congress within 28 hours of imposing or raising tariffs and explain the justification. The administration would also have to assess and report the expected impact on American businesses and consumers.
Crucially, the bill mandates that any new tariffs would automatically expire after 60 days unless Congress passes a joint resolution approving them.
It also gives Congress the power to cancel tariffs sooner by passing a resolution of disapproval.
Trump has already threatened to veto the legislation.
Grassley, the bill’s lead Republican co-sponsor, said it’s time for Congress to reclaim its constitutional role in trade.
“For too long, Congress has delegated its clear authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce to the executive branch,” Grassley said in a statement.
“I’m joining Sen. Cantwell to introduce the bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025 to ensure Congress has a voice in trade policy.”
The Democratic co-sponsors include Sens. Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Mark Warner (Va.), Michael Bennet (Colo.), Peter Welch (Vt.), Chris Coons (Del.), and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.).
The bill is modeled after the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which limits a president’s ability to engage in military action without congressional consent.
The White House on Monday announced strong opposition to the bill, saying it would undermine the president’s long-standing authority to respond to global threats.
In a formal policy statement, the Office of Management and Budget argued the bill would “severely constrain the president’s ability to use authorities long recognized by Congress and upheld by the courts.”
Trump recently invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose reciprocal tariffs on over 180 countries and territories.
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