Economy, Jobs and Trade

Who sets tariffs

34 public statements from 2026 candidates · 6 related bills

§1The range of views

Why this matters: This decides whether one person or a vote of Congress can change the prices of imported goods across the whole economy.

Drafted by AI, then checked for neutral wording in a separate AI review. It describes the question and the main positions, not any candidate's view. Facts link to their sources.

Whether the president can impose tariffs alone under emergency and trade laws, or whether new tariffs should need approval from Congress; in 2026 the Supreme Court ruled that the emergency-powers law (IEEPA) does not let the president impose tariffs, while other trade laws allow some tariffs within set limits.1

  1. Give the president broader power to impose tariffs without a vote of Congress, such as under emergency powers
  2. Keep current law, which lets the president impose tariffs under specific trade laws but not the emergency-powers law
  3. Let tariffs start, but end them unless Congress approves within a set time
  4. Require Congress to approve new tariffs before they take effect

These options describe policies, not people. The order is not a ranking.

§2What candidates have said

Why this matters: Statements candidates made publicly, summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Candidates who haven't spoken publicly on this issue aren't listed.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Let tariffs start, but end them unless Congress approves within a set time (1)

  • Michael J. Quirk FL-17
    His campaign website says major tariff actions should get an up-or-down vote in Congress or expire.2

Require Congress to approve new tariffs before they take effect (8)

  • Terri Sewell AL-7
    Her campaign website says she helped introduce the Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act, which it says would stop many of President Trump's tariffs on allies and require congressional approval for all new tariffs.3
  • Adam Hamilton KS Senate
    His campaign website says he would require Congress to approve new tariffs before they take effect and require their cost to families to be published first.4
  • Christina Bertrand Hines MI-10
    Her prices topic page says major economic decisions such as tariffs should not be made unilaterally but should go through debate and legislation in the democratic process, and that she will work to restore Congress's authority over trade and economic policy.5
  • Matt Little MN-2
    His campaign website says the power to set tariffs should shift from the White House to Congress.6
  • Fred Wellman MO-2
    His campaign website says tariff power should be put back in Congress, where it says the Constitution places it.7
  • Sam Forstag MT-1
    His campaign website lists requiring congressional approval for tariffs as a way to give Montana farmers and ranchers stability.8
  • Trygve Hammer ND-AL
    His campaign website says rural communities need Congress to use its constitutional power to impose tariffs.9
  • Ted Brown TX Senate
    His campaign website says Congress should repeal the laws that give the president emergency tariff powers and should take back control over trade and tariffs.10

Statements that don't match one option (25)

  • Lee McInnis AL-3
    His campaign website lists among his goals reclaiming Congress's constitutional power to set taxes and tariffs.11
  • Adam Gray CA-13
    His campaign website lists among his accomplishments cosponsoring the Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act, which it says would limit the president's ability to impose tariffs without congressional approval.12
  • Sam Liccardo CA-16
    His campaign website lists the Trade Review Act and the Prevent Tariff Abuse Act, which it says restore Congress's role in setting tariffs, among bills endorsed by Innovation for Good, a group he founded.13,14
  • Bob Chew CO Senate
    His campaign website says Congress needs to reassert its constitutional authority over tariffs.15
  • Sarah McBride DE-AL
    Her campaign website says she cosponsored the Prevent Tariff Abuse Act, which would require congressional approval before a president imposes tariffs under a national emergency.16
  • Matthew Montavon FL-17
    His campaign website says he wants to ensure major policy changes, especially on economic tariffs, go through Congress rather than relying on executive orders.17
  • Dean Ocean Abrams FL Governor
    His campaign website says the Constitution gives Congress, not the president acting by emergency declaration, the power to impose tariffs.18
  • Christina Bohannan IA-1
    Her campaign website says she will exercise Congress's power to end the tariffs.19
  • Lindsay James IA-2
    Her campaign website says Congress has to take back control of the tariff power to combat rising costs.20
  • Ellie Gilbreath ID-2
    Her policies page says she will adjust tariffs and return constitutional controls over them to Congress.21
  • Melissa L. Bean IL-8
    Her campaign website says the founders gave Congress the power over taxation, tariffs and war, and that she is running to help restore the balance of powers.22
  • Daniel Biss IL-9
    His campaign website says no president should have the authority to create tariffs by social media post, and that he supports pending bipartisan legislation that would limit the president's power to impose tariffs without the approval of Congress.23
  • Charles Booker KY Senate
    His campaign website says that on his first day he would introduce a joint resolution to revoke the national emergency that it says the president has used to raise tariffs.24
  • Mikel Wein KY-5
    His campaign website lists passing pending legislation to control tariffs among actions needed immediately, and lists four measures, including bills it says would require the president to submit proposed Section 232 tariffs to Congress for approval or to get congressional approval before imposing new tariffs on allied countries, and a resolution it says would end the emergency declared to impose global tariffs.25
  • Jake Auchincloss MA-4
    His campaign website says to strengthen congressional control over tariffs, among other checks and balances.26
  • Rasheed Nicholas Walters MA-8
    His campaign website says he will codify existing tariffs into permanent law so future administrations cannot reverse them.27
  • Doug Chapin MN-6
    It says he will work to take back and protect Congress's authority over spending, taxes and tariffs.28
  • Erik Osberg MN-7
    His Defend the Constitution priority says he wants Congress to reclaim its authority over spending, tariffs and oversight, and that tariffs and other major policy decisions should go through elected representatives instead of being decided unilaterally.29
  • Scott Colom MS Senate
    His campaign website says he would vote to take back Congress's power over tariffs, which it says are taxing everything Mississippians buy.30
  • Alani Bankhead MT Senate
    Her campaign website says Congress should have to vote before any across-the-board tariff takes effect.31
  • Seth Bodnar MT Senate
    His campaign website says Congress should reassert its constitutional authority over tariffs.32
  • Michael D Eisenhauer MT-2
    His Voter Contract page says he will fight to return to Congress its constitutional power over tariffs and trade policy, and his Issues page says Congress, not the president, should again control tariffs and trade.33,34
  • Maggie Goodlander NH-2
    Her campaign website says she wants to restore Congress's constitutional authority over tariffs and taxation, and lists legal briefs defending that authority among her accomplishments.35
  • Kathy C. Hochul NY Governor
    Her campaign website says she took President Trump to court over tariffs it calls illegal, and won twice.36
  • Annie Andrews SC Senate
    Her campaign plans say she would fight to reclaim Congress's constitutional power over tariffs and end unilateral tariffs.37,38

§3Related bills

Why this matters: Bills from 2023–2026 that bear on this issue, with how Congress handled them.