Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, on Thursday introduced legislation with Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., to amend the Trade Act of 1974 to bring back congressional authority over tariffs.
The bill, the Trade Review Act of 2025, would require the president to notify Congress of any new tariffs within 48 hours of their imposition. The bill also limits the enactment of the president’s tariffs to 60 days unless he receives congressional approval for their continuation. It also allows Congress to terminate the tariffs by passing a resolution of disapproval.
The Grassley-Cantwell bill excludes antidumping and countervailing duties from the new regulations.
“For too long, Congress has delegated its clear authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce to the executive branch. Building on my previous efforts as Finance Committee Chairman, I’m joining Sen. Cantwell to introduce the bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025 to reassert Congress’ constitutional role and ensure Congress has a voice in trade policy,” Grassley said in a press release.
A spokeswoman for Grassley noted to The Daily Signal that the senator’s legislation was a continuation of his efforts dating back to 2019.
“Grassley has long emphasized the Constitution assigns Congress the task of regulating foreign commerce. This legislation mirrors Grassley’s 2019 Section 232 tariff-reform efforts as Senate Finance Committee chairman during the first Trump administration,” the press release explained.
Grassley, 91, has served in the U.S. Senate since 1981 and currently holds the title of president pro tempore as the most senior senator of the party in the majority in the Senate. He also currently chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Cantwell has served in the Senate since 2001, and before that served in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is currently the ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee.
Grassley joins several other Republicans in expressing dissent from Trump’s approach to imposing tariffs, powers given to previous presidents by Congress. Four senators from the president’s party, including former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul, both R-Ky.; Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine; and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, joined with Senate Democrats to pass a resolution to reverse Trump’s 25% tariff on Canadian imports.
The resolution is unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled House, but if it did, it would likely be subject to the president’s veto.
The move came as President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on nations that trade with the United States. In an event dubbed “Liberation Day” on Wednesday in the White House Rose Garden, the president said, “If they complain, if you want your tariff rate to be zero, then you build your product right here in America, because there is no tariff.”
The Daily Signal previously reported that the Israeli government announced it would lift all duties on U.S. imports the Tuesday before Trump’s actions. The Canadian province of Ontario also appeared willing to negotiate with the U.S.