President Donald Trump would veto a bill giving Congress more authority over trade policy if it reached his desk, the White House announced.
A bipartisan group of senators led by Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington, and Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, on April 3 introduced the Trade Review Act of 2025. The bill would allow Congress to end any tariff at any time, require Congress to approve any tariff within 60 days and necessitate the president notify Congress within 48 hours of issuing any new tariffs.
“For too long, Congress has delegated its clear authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce to the executive branch,” Grassley said in a statement.
Added Cantwell in the same statement, “Arbitrary tariffs, particularly on our allies, damage U.S. export opportunities and raise prices for American consumers and businesses. As representatives of the American people, Congress has a duty to stop actions that will cause them harm.”
Markets have been in turmoil since Trump on April 2 announced sweeping tariffs against dozens of countries. The U.S. has, among other things, placed a minimum baseline of 10% tariffs on all countries and 25% tariffs on automobiles imported from other nations.
In an April 7 statement threatening a veto, the White House said the senators’ bill “would dangerously hamper the president’s authority and duty to determine our foreign policy and protect our national security.”
Although seven Senate Republicans have signed onto the bill, Republican leaders in the Senate and House do not support it, meaning its passage is unlikely.
