Senators Grassley and Cantwell introduce trade bill to limit presidential tariff powers

In the United States on April 2, 2025, Senators Chuck Grassley and Maria Cantwell introduced a bipartisan legislation known as the Trade Review Act of 2025. This act requires President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for any new tariffs he intends to impose, following his announcement of a new tariff strategy during a speech. The bill mandates that the president must notify Congress within 48 hours of imposing any new tariffs and include an analysis of their potential economic impact. If Congress does not approve the tariffs within 60 days, they will expire automatically. This legislative action comes amidst broader concerns over the economic ramifications of Trump's tariffs, which Cantwell argues would negatively affect various sectors including agriculture and technology, ultimately passing costs onto consumers. Grassley, who is seen as an ally of Trump but is skeptical of tariffs, emphasized that Congress has historically delegated too much power regarding trade policy to the executive branch. The introduction of this bill signifies a push to reclaim that authority, reflecting a growing bipartisan scrutiny of Trump's tariff measures. Positioned against a backdrop of economic dynamics and political power struggles, the proposed legislation aims to reassert Congress's constitutional role in regulating tariffs, indicating a potential shift in trade policymaking processes. This new development follows a recent occurrence where several Republican senators allied with Democrats to repeal an emergency declaration by Trump regarding tariffs on Canadian imports, signaling a fracture in Republican unity over tariffs and trade policies.