Kaine & Coons Introduce Legislation to Require Congressional Approval of New Tariffs on U.S. Allies Ahead of Expected Trump Tariffs

25% tariffs expected to go into effect against Mexico and Canada soon, damaging relations with our two closest allies.
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Chris Coons (D-DE), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced theStopping Tariffs on Allies and Bolstering Legislative Exercise of (STABLE) Trade Policy Actto rein in chaos that President Trump could create by unilaterally imposing tariffs on trading partners.
TheSTABLE Trade Policy Actwould institute a requirement of Congressional approval before a president could impose new tariffs on U.S. allies and free trade agreement (FTA) partners. Currently, the president can impose tariffs on any nation using authorities that Congress created to combat national security risks and address international emergencies. The bill reinstates Congressional authority over trade policy and limits the president’s ability to unilaterally impose tariffs on our allies.
“Virginians want costs to go down, not up. But President Trump’s plans to impose broad-based tariffs would raise the price of everyday goods and hurt our economy,”said Kaine. “It’s time for Congress to make it clear that no president should abuse existing tariff authorities designed to protect America’s national security from threats posed by our adversaries to slap tariffs on our allies and closest trading partners. I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Coons to take that step to protect Americans’ pocketbooks from sharp price hikes and safeguard our relationships with our allies.”
The introduction ofSTABLE Trade Policy Actcomes shortly before President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs on Canada and Mexico are expected to be announced. On his first day in office, President Trump pledged to implement 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. The two nations, both members a trade agreement that President Trump negotiated, accounted for almost one-third of all U.S. goods imports last year. The tariffs set to go into effect soon are expected to raise the costs ofgasoline, cars, groceries, and home goods.
Specifically, theSTABLE Trade Policy Actwould:
Kaine is committed to protecting Virginian families from price hikes imposed by tariffs. Last week, he introduced theProtecting Americans from Tax Hikes on Imported Goods Actto shield American families and businesses from increased costs by limiting the president’s authority to impose unlimited tariffs under theInternational Emergency Economic Powers Act(IEEPA).
The full bill text is availablehere.
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