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Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in the Senate have introduced legislation that would rein in presidential authority over tariffs by requiring congressional approval for new trade duties.

Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, yesterday President Trump announced a new tariff policy, introducing what he called “reciprocal” tariffs aimed at correcting what he described as decades of unfair trade practices against the United States. Trump stated that foreign nations have long imposed steep tariffs and restrictive barriers on American goods while benefiting from access to the US market, and argued that this imbalance has hurt American workers and industries. In response, he unveiled a 10% universal tariff on all imports, along with significantly higher rates for countries he deemed especially abusive—impacting over 40 nations in total. Trump said these tariffs are meant to level the playing field, encourage domestic manufacturing, and send a clear message: if companies want to avoid the new fees, they need to “make your product in America.”

What’s happening now: In a notable development, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) have introduced the Trade Review Act of 2025, a bipartisan effort to reassert congressional authority over US trade policy. The legislation comes in response to growing concerns from some over President Trump’s use of tariffs, including a newly announced 10% baseline tariff on all imports.

Cantwell and Grassley, both members of the Senate Finance Committee, argue that Congress—not the executive branch—should hold the power to impose taxes that impact American businesses and consumers. “Trade wars can be as devastating as military conflicts,” Cantwell said, emphasizing that the Constitution gives Congress—not the president—control over trade.

So how would this shit work?: If passed, the Trade Review Act would require the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of imposing or increasing tariffs, providing a detailed explanation and an analysis of the expected impact on US businesses and consumers. Under the proposed law, any new tariff would automatically expire after 60 days unless Congress approves it through a joint resolution. The bill also grants lawmakers the ability to overturn tariffs at any point with a resolution of disapproval, effectively giving Congress veto power over unilateral trade actions.

The bill follows a rare bipartisan move in the Senate, where four Republican senators—Rand Paul, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitch McConnell—joined Democrats in passing a resolution to block President Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian imports.