1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

It is concerning that the president has unilaterally imposed widespread tariffs on imports, escalating trade tensions and driving up costs for American businesses and consumers. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to regulate foreign commerce and levy tariffs. While past legislation has delegated some of this power to the executive branch, the current administration's sweeping use of tariffs under tenuous legal justifications appears to exceed the intended scope. To restore the constitutional balance of powers and end the disruptive trade war, Congress should reassert its authority over tariff policy. Passing bipartisan legislation to require congressional approval for future tariffs would be a reasonable step. This would allow for proper scrutiny and debate over tariffs, rather than leaving such a consequential decision solely in the president's hands. Trade disputes should be resolved through good-faith negotiations, not escalating tit-for-tat tariffs that harm American economic interests. Reining in the president's unchecked tariff powers would uphold the Constitution's system of checks and balances. It would also signal that ill-advised trade conflicts cannot continue indefinitely by executive fiat alone. For the sake of economic stability and American leadership on trade, Congress must take back its rightful role in tariff policy from the executive overreach occurring currently.