US Congress Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Curb Trump's Tariff Bomb

Amid President Donald Trump imposing reciprocal tariffs on global trading partners, a bipartisan bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress to check the president's absolute authority over tariffs.

On the 3rd (local time), according to The Hill and Politico, Senators Chuck Grassley (Republican, Iowa) and Maria Cantwell (Democrat, Washington), members of the Senate Finance Committee, submitted a bill reaffirming Congress's role in establishing and approving trade policy.

Donald Trump, President of the United States. Photo by Reuters-Yonhap News

Named the "2025 Trade Review Act," the bill requires the president to explain to lawmakers within 48 hours the reasons for imposing new tariffs or raising tariff rates, as well as the impact on U.S. industries and consumers. It also includes provisions that suspend the effectiveness of new tariffs if Congress does not adopt a joint resolution approving them within 60 days. Additionally, if Congress adopts a resolution opposing the tariffs, the tariffs must be terminated.

Senator Cantwell said, "Trade wars can be destructive, which is why the Founding Fathers granted Congress clear constitutional authority over war and trade," adding, "This bill emphasizes Congress's role in ensuring that rules-based trade policy is transparent, consistent, and beneficial to the American public."

President Trump announced the previous day that he would impose a universal 10% base tariff on all global trading partners and introduce reciprocal tariffs that vary individually for South Korea, the European Union (EU), Japan, China, India, and others.

U.S. media outlets have predicted that the bill's chances of passing are slim, given that the Republican Party holds the majority in both chambers and especially because President Trump's influence is strong in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

However, amid growing inflation concerns in the U.S., voices within the Republican Party have emerged calling for a check on President Trump's tariff war actions. A surprising development occurred when a resolution introduced by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine (Virginia), calling for the withdrawal of the 25% tariff on Canada, was passed in the Senate, where Republicans hold the majority (53 out of 100), with 51 votes in favor and 48 against. Four Republican senators?Susan Collins (Maine), Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell (both Kentucky), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)?voted in favor, unlike most other Republicans, enabling the resolution to pass.