Congressional Republicans seek to block Trump’s tariff plans, but challenges loom

Congressional Republicans are exploring ways to curb President Donald Trump’s controversial tariff agenda, but their efforts face significant obstacles.

After multiple attempts to convince the White House to reconsider the tariffs, GOP lawmakers are now turning to legislation to shift more control over tariffs to Capitol Hill, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The first step in this process occurred about a month ago, when a group of GOP lawmakers attempted to quietly urge the president to rethink his tariff plans. When that approach didn’t work, Republicans shifted to Step Two: requesting broad exceptions and exemptions to shield their constituents from the negative impacts of the tariffs. But that, too, failed to yield results.

This has led Republicans to Step Three: considering legislative measures that could effectively block or limit Trump’s tariff authority. On April 3, shortly after the president unveiled his tariff plans, the Senate voted to invalidate Trump’s February 1 emergency declaration, which was used to impose tariffs on Canada. This vote, which saw four Republicans joining Democrats in opposition to the president’s move, signaled a growing divide within the party on the issue.

The most significant development came a day later, when Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington introduced the Trade Review Act of 2025. The bill aims to reassert Congress’ authority over trade policy by requiring the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of imposing new tariffs.

The president would also need to explain the rationale and provide an analysis of the impact on American consumers and businesses. Congress would then have 60 days to approve the tariffs. If Congress does not act, the tariffs would expire.

The bill is gaining traction in the Senate, with support growing rapidly. By Saturday, the number of GOP co-sponsors had expanded from one to seven, including prominent Republicans such as Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, Jerry Moran, Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis, and Todd Young. In the House, Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska is championing a version of the bill.

Despite these efforts, significant hurdles remain. It’s uncertain whether GOP leaders will allow the bill to come to a vote, and even if it passes, Trump is likely to veto it. Overriding a presidential veto would require two-thirds majorities in both chambers—a challenging feat.

By Vafa Guliyeva