U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, from Nebraska’s second congressional district, introduced a bill that would set a limit to the president’s power of establishing U.S. trade policy.
H.R. 2665, known as The Trade Review Act of 2025, would require congressional approval for any unilateral tariffs proposed by the president. It is co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd of Colorado and Democratic Reps. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Gregory Meeks of New York.
While Bacon has said he supports some tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration, he said the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to impose tariffs.
“The Constitution clearly gives the authority for taxes and tariffs to Congress, but for too long, we have handed that authority to the executive branch,” Bacon said in a written statement. “This is less about the actual tariffs laid by the Trump Administration, some of which I support because they are reciprocal, but more a commitment to uphold the Constitution. Congress has the power of the purse. Our founders created checks and balances for a reason.”
The bill would establish a process for Congress to review new or increased tariffs by requiring the president to notify members within 48 hours of imposition, including an assessment on U.S. consumers and businesses. It would also limit the imposed tariff to 60 days unless Congress approves an extension, as well as other powers of disapproval.
The bill has been referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. There is a companion bill introduced in the Senate by Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Democrat Maria Cantwell of Washington.