Oregon Sen. Wyden says President Trump has “abused his power” unlike any other president, claims his bill will put Congress back in control of international trade

Eugene, OR – “Trump has abused his power on tariffs and trade unlike any other president,” Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said as he announced new legislation aimed at limiting presidential authority over tariffs and giving Congress a larger role in U.S. trade decisions.

Wyden, a Democrat, said his Congressional Trade Powers Act would put limits on what he described as the president’s broad ability to impose tariffs without congressional approval.

“My bill, The Congressional Trade Powers Act, will put Trump in the backseat, and Congress back behind the wheel on international trade,” Wyden wrote in a July 22 post on X. “Enough is enough.”

The senator’s announcement came after President Donald Trump imposed a new round of tariffs targeting Canadian goods, including a 50% retaliatory tariff on a wide range of imports. Trump cited federal trade authorities that allow the president to take action without a traditional vote from Congress.

According to CNBC, Wyden introduced the legislation after criticizing Trump’s use of tariff powers and arguing that the president had relied on trade laws that gave the executive branch too much control over international commerce. Wyden’s bill would eliminate some of the statutory tools presidents can use to impose import duties and would require greater congressional involvement in future tariff decisions, CNBC News reported.

Wyden specifically criticized Trump’s decision to use a nearly century-old trade law to announce tariffs on Canadian products. The law, which dates back to the early 20th century, has rarely been used for broad tariff actions and has become a focus of debate over the limits of presidential trade authority.

The Trump administration has defended the use of tariffs as a tool to protect American workers, address trade imbalances, and pressure foreign governments to change policies affecting U.S. businesses. Supporters of the tariffs argue that the president needs flexibility to respond quickly to unfair trade practices.

Critics, including Wyden, have argued that tariffs can increase costs for businesses and consumers while allowing presidents to make major economic decisions without sufficient oversight from Congress.

Wyden’s proposed legislation would seek to shift more authority over trade policy back to lawmakers. The senator said Congress, which has constitutional authority over regulating commerce with foreign nations, should have a stronger role in decisions that affect the economy.

The debate comes as tensions between the United States and Canada have increased following Trump’s tariff announcements. Canada is one of the United States’ largest trading partners, and businesses in both countries have raised concerns about the potential impact of higher tariffs on supply chains, prices, and economic stability.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek also criticized the tariffs, saying the policies could raise costs for families and hurt Oregon businesses that rely on international trade. Kotek said Oregon workers, farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses need economic stability rather than uncertainty caused by trade disputes.

Wyden has previously criticized Trump’s approach to trade policy, arguing that broad tariff authority can create economic uncertainty and harm industries that depend on predictable markets.

Supporters of Wyden’s bill say increased congressional oversight would create more accountability in trade decisions, while opponents argue that limiting presidential tariff authority could make it harder for the United States to respond quickly to international economic challenges.

The Congressional Trade Powers Act is expected to face debate in Congress, where lawmakers will consider whether tariff decisions should remain primarily within presidential authority or require greater approval from elected representatives.

Wyden said his goal is to restore Congress’ role in international trade policy and prevent what he called an overreach of executive power.