As markets reel from unpredictable tariff shifts under President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war with China, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators — including Minnesota’s Sen. Amy Klobuchar — is pushing for legislation that would restore Congressional oversight to U.S. trade policy.
The Trade Review Act of 2025, modeled after the War Powers Act, would require any presidentially imposed tariffs to expire after 60 days unless explicitly authorized by Congress. Supporters say the bill is a direct response to the economic instability caused by fluctuating tariffs, retaliatory trade actions, and limited accountability.
“President Trump’s tariff tax is raising costs for Americans and creating economic uncertainty,” Klobuchar said in a statement. “The erratic way these tariffs have been announced, un-announced, and re-announced has made it difficult for families and businesses to plan for the future. That is why I’m introducing bipartisan legislation to restore sanity and stability to our trade policy.”
The legislation has drawn support from both sides of the aisle, including Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee. Wyden criticized the tariffs as a “10% tax on everything Americans buy,” calling the administration’s approach “chaotic” and harmful to small businesses and retirees.
“Congress needs to pass this bill to overturn these global tariffs for good,” Wyden said.
The economic effects of the shifting tariffs are particularly acute in Minnesota, a state with strong manufacturing and agricultural sectors that rely heavily on international trade.
Polaris Inc., a Medina-based powersports manufacturer, has navigated the complex tariff landscape by filing more than 100 exemption requests since 2019 — securing refunds on roughly two-thirds and recovering a portion of the $90 million it initially paid. However, industry analysts say smaller companies lacking political clout or lobbying resources have struggled.
Polaris’ successful exemption process has also drawn scrutiny. The company’s CEO has donated to both Democratic Sens. Klobuchar and Tina Smith, while the Political Action Committee (PAC), made up of employees from Polaris, gave money to the campaign of Republican Representative Tom Emmer in February 2024.
“There’s no question that political connections can smooth the process,” said a Minneapolis-based trade attorney familiar with the filings. “But smaller Minnesota businesses trying to import packaging or parts aren’t on equal footing.”
One such voice is Mica Whitfield, CEO of 9to5, a nonprofit focused on economic equity for women of color. She said Trump’s shifting trade policies have disproportionately harmed Black women entrepreneurs.
“Black women are the fastest-growing group of business owners, but they’re already navigating unequal access to capital,” Whitfield said. “Now they’re forced to find new sources for packaging or ingredients just to stay afloat. This could close doors for so many of them.”
The effects have reached consumers as well. Nintendo, for instance, paused pre-orders for its upcoming Switch 2 console earlier this month, citing supply chain disruptions linked to the changing tariff environment.
“There’s a sensible role for tariffs in economic policy, but there’s nothing sensible about reckless, unpredictable tariffs,” said Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group. “If Trump cared about protecting workers, he’d pair tariffs with manufacturing investments and price-gouging prevention. This isn’t strategy — it’s showmanship.”
Public Citizen has consistently criticized the Trump administration’s trade approach, saying it lacks a coherent strategy and could lead to cronyism, when people in power give jobs, favors or advantages to their friends or close associates — not based on merit or qualifications. “While tariffs can be useful tools in targeted economic policy, Trump’s plans look more like strongman politics than effective governance,” the group said in a recent statement.
At a recent telephone town hall, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) responded to a constituent frustrated by trade barriers with Canada, where a $15,000 fee was imposed on a $40,000 project. “Our current trade with Canada and Mexico is being governed by the deal negotiated under Trump,” Omar said, referring to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaced NAFTA in 2018.
Although the USMCA retained many NAFTA provisions, critics argue it has not resolved longstanding disparities in cross-border trade treatment, especially for small businesses. Meanwhile, according to the Center for American Progress, the White House has indicated it would veto the Trade Review Act, calling it an overreach that could “undermine the president’s ability to protect American interests swiftly and decisively.”
Despite the opposition, Klobuchar and her co-sponsors believe the bill has momentum. “This is about restoring balance,” Klobuchar said. “Congress should have a say when policies have the power to impact our economy, workers and communities in such far-reaching ways.”
As presidential candidates prepare for the 2026 election cycle, trade and tariffs are once again shaping up to be central policy battlegrounds — particularly in states like Minnesota, where manufacturers, farmers and entrepreneurs alike are feeling the ripple effects.
Comedian Dave Chappelle once described Trump’s trade strategies as “high people ideas,” quipping in a 2017 stand-up special: “I want to wear Nikes — I don’t want to make them.”
For many Minnesotans, the joke hits close to home.
Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at ccombs@spokesman-recorder.com.