Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, is among a group Republican lawmakers at the US Capitol pushing back on the White House’s sweeping tariff plan by co-sponsoring legislation that would put guardrails on the president’s ability to impose tariffs without support from Congress.
The bill comes as the European Union prepares to vote on retaliatory tariffs and Trump tells reporters that he rejected a “zero-for-zero” tariff deal offered by the EU back in February.
The Trade Review Act of 2025 was introduced Monday and sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. It would give the White House 48 hours to notify Congress of new tariffs and require an explanation and impact statement. Congress would be able to pass a joint resolution of disapproval, and tariffs would expire in 60 days without Congressional approval.
“If S. 1272 were presented to the President, he would veto the bill,” the White House budget office warned in a statement circulating among Senate offices and the media on Monday.
The bill has six other Republicans co-sponsors, including Tillis, Sens. Mitch McConnell, Ky., Jerry Moran, Kan., Todd Young, Ind., Lisa Murkowski, Alaska, and Susan Collins, Maine.
In a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Tuesday Tillis made headlines when he asked US Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer, “Whose throat do I get to choke if this proves to be wrong?”
Tillis sought clarification on products or nations that may be exempt from tariffs, but Greer confirmed in his testimony that President Trump directed that there not be exclusions.
“I’m just trying to answer a question that I have several people in North Carolina asking,” Tillis asked of Greer. “There will not be any exclusions on steel, aluminum, or any products that are only manufactured in China for the foreseeable future? Because China has said they will fight to the end.”
During the hearing, Tillis questioned the administration’s strategy and sought accountability for potential economic repercussions. His comments reflects broader unease about the tariffs’ potential to harm constituents and key industries, such as agriculture.
While some GOP members are advocating for legislative measures to reclaim congressional authority over trade decisions, the party remains divided on challenging the president’s approach. There is internal debate underway on the balance between supporting the administration’s trade policies and addressing the economic concerns of their constituents.
A House version of the Senate bill is being introduced by Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb, but it doesn’t have leadership support. The Wall Street Journal reported that, in a call to Republican House colleagues on Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-IA, urged them to back Trump’s policies.
“Do you believe that, over the course of the next 14 months, we’re gonna have a level of certainty and the people in the trailer park that I grew up in, who are going to bear the brunt of some of these short term cost increases maybe some job displacement for a period of time, how are they going to be feeling on Groundhog Day, 2026?” asked Tillis. “Do we do we feel like the majority of this will be resolved, and I’ll be able to thank whomever thought that the alla prima approach was a good idea?”
Tillis’ comments highlighted apprehensions among lawmakers about the tariffs and whether a backfire would impact the economy and the upcoming 2026 elections.
“From 60 to 65, people look at their 401K statements – they did vote for President Trump, they voted for me and I hope that they will again in both cases – well maybe not the president, but I intend to run for re-election – I’m just trying to figure out if they’re going to feel good about this,” Tillis said. “Because a long term play in American politics and a long term play in American public policy formation it is about 12 months.”
“I wish you well, but I am skeptical,” Tillis told Greer.
European Union tariffs
In the meantime, Trump is doubling down on the strategy, saying that a trade deal offered by the EU to the US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, back in February was not enough. In a press conference Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the European Union offered the United States a “zero-for-zero” tariff deal on industrial products, including cars, and remains ready to make that deal.
When asked by a reporter in the Oval Office on Monday whether the “zero-for-zero” offer was enough. Trump said, “No its not.”
“The EU is very tough,” Trump added. “It was formed to really do damage to the US in trade, thats the reason it was formed, with all of the countries from Europe, not all of them but most of them, it was formed to create a little bit of monopoly situation, to creat a unified force against the United States in trade.”
The EU member nations are scheduled to vote Wednesday on a first round of possible retaliatory tariffs, in response to the Trump administration’s 20-25% tariff on imported European goods.
“President Trump has long demanded reciprocity in trade, even signing an executive order calling for reciprocal tariffs—though the math behind those tariffs is questionable,” said Donald Bryson, CEO of the The John Locke Foundation. “Yet, when the European Union offered exactly that with a zero-for-zero deal on cars and industrial goods, the administration rejected it outright. If reciprocity is the goal, and it’s offered and refused, then what is the point?”
The EU’s tariffs would take effect next week.
“History shows that free trade, not protectionism, has delivered prosperity, innovation, and strength to the American economy,” Bryson added. “Walking away from this deal walks away from that legacy.”
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