The Congressional Trade Powers Reform Act of 2026 would eliminate two tariff authorities and require congressional votes on three others
Tom Williams / Getty Images
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced legislation Wednesday that would curtail President Donald Trump's authority to impose tariffs unilaterally and require Congress to approve import duties under several key trade statutes.
The bill, called the Congressional Trade Powers Reform Act of 2026, would require Trump to obtain congressional approval before imposing tariffs under three existing authorities: Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which covers unfair foreign trade practices; Section 201 of the same law, which addresses surging imports that threaten domestic industries; and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which permits tariffs on national security grounds, according to CNBC.
Beyond restricting existing authorities, the bill would repeal two statutes Wyden calls relics of an earlier era: Section 122 of the 1974 trade law, which addresses presidential powers tied to international balance-of-payments concerns, and Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, a provision permitting duties as high as 50% on imports from nations deemed to be treating the U.S. unfairly in trade.
To manage that approval process, the legislation would stand up a new congressional Joint Committee on Tariffs and Trade, drawn equally from the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, with five members apiece. That body would be given a window of up to 30 days to evaluate any tariff proposal from the White House and determine whether to send it to the full Congress for a vote.
The bill would further tighten oversight of the U.S. Trade Representative by pulling that office out of the Executive Office of the President entirely and installing a new inspector general to provide independent accountability.
Wyden introduced the bill a day after criticizing Trump for announcing 50% tariffs on Canadian goods under Section 338. "Donald Trump has abused every trade authority at his disposal, and he is now excavating a law from the Great Depression to once again impose vast, unilateral tariffs on products from one of our closest allies and trading partners," Wyden said in a statement. "Trump cannot be trusted with tariff authority."
Trump signed three proclamations earlier this week imposing 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion in Canadian imports across motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages, and dairy products, invoking Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 — a provision that has never previously been used by any president. Those tariffs take effect August 19.
The bill's path forward is steep. With Republicans controlling both chambers, it is unlikely to advance through Congress, and even a bill that somehow cleared both houses would be subject to a presidential veto. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the bill, according to CNBC.
Join 500,000+ readers who start their day with Quartz.
By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
