Bipartisan Senators Push for Congressional Oversight on New Tariffs

In a significant move to reassert legislative authority, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) unveiled the bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025 on Thursday. The bill seeks to tighten Congress' control over U.S. trade policy, just a day after former President Donald Trump outlined a bold new tariff strategy during his 'Liberation Day' speech.

The proposed legislation would require the president to notify Congress of any new tariffs within 48 hours of their implementation. Additionally, the president must provide a detailed explanation of the tariffs' rationale and their potential economic impact. Congress would then have 60 days to either approve the tariffs or allow them to expire. This marks a clear effort to shift some trade policymaking power from the executive branch back to Capitol Hill.

"For too long, Congress has delegated its clear authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce to the executive branch," Grassley, a known skeptic of tariffs despite his alliance with Trump, said in a statement. The senator added that the bill builds on his prior efforts to ensure Congress has a voice in trade policy.

Senator Cantwell echoed these sentiments, warning of the potential ripple effects of Trump's tariffs on key industries like agriculture, manufacturing, and technology. "Ultimately, consumers will pay the price. It's time for Congress to take action to counter the president's trade war," Cantwell said.

The timing of the bill is particularly noteworthy. Just hours before its introduction, the Senate passed a separate resolution to repeal Trump's emergency declaration imposing tariffs on Canadian imports. While four Republican senators broke ranks to support the measure, Grassley was not among them. However, the resolution faces a grim fate in the House, leaving Thursday's bill as a more focused attempt to recalibrate the balance of power in trade policymaking.

Grassley's Iowa roots and Cantwell's Washington ties underscore the stakes of this legislative push. Iowa's economy leans heavily on farm exports, while Washington is home to export giants like Boeing. Both senators have a vested interest in shielding their states from the potential fallout of unchecked trade policies.

In characteristic Trump style, the former president defended his tariff strategy on Truth Social, likening it to a medical operation where "the patient lived, and is healing." He predicted a stronger, more resilient economy as a result. But not everyone is convinced, and the introduction of the Trade Review Act signals that the debate over trade policy is far from over.