Sen. Maria Cantwell joins Republican to introduce legislation setting rules for president on tariffs

Democratic Washington U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell today introduced bipartisan legislation that would set rules a president must follow to enact tariffs. The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

The bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025 is modeled after the War Powers Act.

Under the proposal, the president would be required to explain why a tariff is needed and its potential impact on the economy. After 60 days, the tariff would expire unless Congress passed a joint resolution approving it.

“Trade wars devastate American working families, small businesses, and manufacturers,” Cantwell said. “Article One, Section Eight of the U.S. Constitution gave Congress—the explicit authority to impose duties and regulate commerce, given the far-reaching impact to our national economy.”

Congress would take tariff power under bill

Congress would also have the authority to pass a joint resolution to end the tariff at any time.

“For too long, Congress has delegated its clear authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce to the executive branch,” Grassley said in a statement.

For decades, global commerce abided by tariff rates agreed to by the U.S. and 122 other countries during the 1980s and 1990s. On Wednesday, President Trump dismantled that arrangement, saying other countries had exploited the system and “ripped off” the United States for years, causing its once-mighty manufacturing base to shrink.

“Our country has been looted, pillaged, raped, and plundered,” Trump said in the Rose Garden. “Taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years. But it is not going to happen anymore.”