Key points:

• Senators Chuck Grassley and Maria Cantwell introduced bipartisan legislation aiming to restrict presidential tariff powers.
• The proposed Trade Review Act of 2025 mandates congressional approval for new tariffs within 60 days.
• Growing Republican dissent emerges as lawmakers express worries about the economic impact of Trump's aggressive trade policies.

A bipartisan coalition of U.S. Senators is actively pursuing legislation designed to curb President Donald Trump's authority to impose tariffs unilaterally. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, alongside Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, have introduced the Trade Review Act of 2025, which seeks to reaffirm Congress's role in establishing trade policy.

The legislation surfaced a day after Trump announced a sweeping tariff package, imposing a 10% baseline tariff on U.S. trading partners and additional levies on countries like China and Japan. This initiative sent shockwaves through global markets, leading to what some lawmakers described as an economic crisis, prompting the urgent need for enhanced oversight over tariff decisions.

With the indicated bill, Congress would have 60 days to approve any new tariffs, thus blocking any unapproved tariffs from taking effect. Both Grassley and Cantwell highlighted the need to restore Congress's legislative authority on trade, referencing the War Powers Resolution of 1973 as a model for legislative oversight in matters of international trade.

Support for the bill has notably increased among Republican colleagues, with Senators Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, and Jerry Moran among those who have voiced concern over the potential economic fallout from tariffs, particularly on agricultural sectors.

As the stock market reacted negatively to the new tariffs, with significant drops following Trump's announcement, a sense of urgency grew within various congressional circles to rein in what some view as an overreach of executive power. Senator Grassley remarked on the constitutional requirement that trade be regulated by Congress, emphasizing that the current tariff strategy lacks clear and targeted objectives, which could unintentionally harm U.S. businesses and consumers.

With Republicans now wrestling with their alignment on Trump's tariff policies, the legislative push for tighter congressional control over trade practices sets the stage for significant political discussions as the entire nation grapples with the ramifications of current trade dynamics. Lawmakers see this as a crucial moment to reclaim congressional authority, aiming to instill a checks-and-balances system that could better safeguard American economic interests amidst evolving global trade challenges.

For further details, read the original coverage from Forbes, CBS News, and ABC News.