Trump’s tariffs are hitting Americans’ pocketbooks hard—and Congress is just watching it happen
Tariffs are a complex economic tool that American politicians of both parties have used—and debated—for centuries. But when a president sidesteps Congress to impose sweeping tariffs, the American people lose their ability to weigh in.
Across the country, small business owners are being hit hard by the Trump administration’s tariffs. Many are finding it harder to plan for the future, struggling to keep their doors open, and being forced to pass higher import costs on to customers. That means thousands of dollars in higher costs for American families.
Tariffs are ‘taxation without representation.’
–Bill Sandweg, owner of Copper Star Coffee in central Phoenix
The Constitutional Problem
The Constitution gives Congress the power to regulate tariffs and trade (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3).
Throughout history, Congress has delegated piecemeals of that power to the president, letting the president impose tariffs—essentially taxes—under some circumstances without approval from lawmakers. The current administration has challenged the limits of that delegation, claiming “emergency” authority to impose massive global tariffs with little explanation or justification.
This is a dangerous concentration of power that undermines our system of checks and balances and hurts communities across America.
It’s time for Congress to Show Some Courage
Enough is enough. We’re calling on Members of Congress to:
- Hold the executive branch accountable
- Reclaim Congress’s constitutional power over tariffs
- Stand up and do what’s right for the people you represent