The US Senate has approved three separate resolutions which aim at limiting Donald Trump’s powers to impose tariffs “on national security grounds” after the former Republican leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, high-profile libertarian and former presidential candidate Rand Paul joined with Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski (Republicans from Maine and Alaska), Angus King (Independent) and Democrats to pass three bills, which amongst other things, would terminate the global tariff schedule as it applies to more than 180 countries.
“This is about restoring Congress’s constitutional role over trade and national emergencies,” according to Senator Tim Kaine (a Democrat from Vermott) who said the three resolutions, S.J. Res. 77, S.J. Res. 81 and S.J. Res. 88, are a check on executive authority and a response to what Democrats called an extraordinary use of emergency powers to impose tariffs.
While the Senate approved the measures, the resolutions remain procedural unless the House of Representatives takes them up for consideration. House Speaker Mike Johnson has signalled that the chamber will not consider any resolution reversing tariffs enacted under the administration’s national-emergency declaration, leaving the measures with an uncertain path to enactment.
The votes come against the backdrop of an executive order issued on April 2 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which instituted an additional 10 per cent tariff on all imports on April 5 and raised country-specific rates to as high as 40 per cent for more than 60 nations by August 7. The legal authority for using the act to impose tariffs is the subject of ongoing litigation. A federal appeals court recently affirmed a lower-court ruling limiting that authority, and the issue is scheduled for oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday (November 5, 2025).
Supporters of the resolutions argued that the measures restore necessary congressional oversight and prevent an open‑ended expansion of executive trade powers. Opponents countered that the administration needs flexibility to address genuine national‑security threats and economic imbalances, and noted that, absent House approval, the resolutions do not yet change current tariff policy.
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