Seven Republican senators have now joined a bipartisan effort to rein in President Trump’s trade powers, signaling growing concern within the GOP over the wide-reaching tariffs he’s imposed on U.S. trading partners. Among the notable names backing the measure are Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who serves as the Senate’s president pro tempore, and Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the former Republican leader.
They’re joined by Sens. Jerry Moran of Kansas, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Todd Young of Indiana, and Susan Collins of Maine all co-sponsors of the Trade Review Act of 2025. The bill represents a rare push by Republicans to put boundaries on a sitting GOP president’s authority.
The legislation is designed to restore congressional oversight over trade policy, specifically the imposition of new tariffs. Under the proposed law, the president would be required to notify Congress within 48 hours of implementing or increasing any tariffs. That notification must include a detailed explanation for the move, as well as an assessment of how the tariffs would affect American businesses and consumers.
More significantly, any new tariff would automatically expire after 60 days unless both chambers of Congress vote to approve it through a joint resolution. This provision would force lawmakers to actively endorse tariff measures if they are to remain in place.
The bill also creates a mechanism for Congress to block tariffs even before the 60-day window closes, giving legislators the ability to pass a joint resolution of disapproval to cancel a trade action early.
This effort comes as concerns rise across party lines about the economic effects of Trump’s aggressive tariff policies, which have rattled markets and prompted warnings from businesses about rising costs. For many of these senators especially those from states with strong manufacturing or agricultural sectors unchecked tariffs present both economic and political risks.
With the economy showing signs of strain and inflationary pressure growing, some in the GOP are feeling pressure from constituents to push back on the administration’s trade strategy. The Trade Review Act aims to strike a balance between presidential authority and the traditional role of Congress in regulating commerce a constitutional responsibility many lawmakers argue has been eroded in recent years.