TPA Praises Lawmakers for Protecting Congressional Trade Authority

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kara Zupkus (224) 456-0257

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) applauded a vote in the House of Representatives to reassert congressional oversight of President Donald Trump’s trade policy. This vote would allow Congress to consider blocking the administration’s unilateral imposition of tariffs, an essential step toward restoring accountability and ensuring the legislature reclaims its constitutional prerogatives to set trade policy. It opens the way to addressing the economy-wide burdens those tariffs have imposed, including increased costs for American businesses and consumers.

In response, David Williams, President of TPA, offered the following comment:

“It is encouraging to see the House finally reassert its authority over trade policy and take steps to rein in tariffs that have imposed real economic hardships. For too long, sweeping tariffs imposed unilaterally by the executive branch have raised prices, disrupted business operations, and plunged the economy into chronic uncertainty.

“Consumers have borne most of the tariff burden. President Trump’s tariffs are the largest U.S. tax increase as a share of economic output since 1993. According to a new report by the Tax Foundation, American households paid roughly $1,000 more on average due to tariffs in 2025 and could pay $1,300 more in 2026 if Congress allows President Trump’s tariffs to stay in place.

“Trade policy—and the taxing power behind it—is the job of Congress. Reclaiming oversight powers helps ensure that trade decisions reflect the interests of the American people.

“TPA has long supported policies that promote free markets, economic growth, and a limited government accountable to taxpayers. Tariffs—and least of all tariffs imposed by the will of the President—advance none of those goals. Now that Congress has taken the first step, TPA urges them vote to rescind President Trump’s tariffs and make trade policy once more the product of legislative debate and broad consensus—not unilateral executive action.”

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The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis, and dissemination of information on the government’s impact on the economy.