Cantwell Joins Amicus Brief Challenging Trump Administration Abuse of Emergency Powers to Impose Arbitrary and Reckless Tariffs

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined 30 Senators in filing an amicus brief in the case of Oregon v. Department of Homeland Security, challenging the Trump Administration's abuse of emergency powers to impose global tariffs on nearly every U.S. trading partner. The brief opposes the Administration's request for a stay of a recent court decision that struck down these tariffs. The Senators' argument is that granting a stay will cause irreparable harm to constituents, particularly small and medium-sized businesses that will continue to be harmed if the President persists in collecting the unlawful IEEPA tariffs. The bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025, introduced by Sen. Cantwell, aims to reaffirm Congress' key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy and reestablish limits on the president's ability to impose unilateral tariffs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump Administration's abuse of emergency powers to impose global tariffs on nearly every U.S. trading partner, including some of America's closest allies, has been challenged by 30 Senators, including Senator Maria Cantwell, in the case of Oregon v. Department of Homeland Security.
  • Granting a stay of the recent court decision that struck down these tariffs will cause irreparable harm to small and medium-sized businesses, particularly those that lack cash-on-hand or capital reserves to pay the increased tariffs.
  • The bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025, introduced by Sen. Cantwell, aims to reaffirm Congress' key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy and reestablish limits on the president's ability to impose unilateral tariffs.
  • The Act has been endorsed by multiple major U.S. business organizations, including the National Retail Federation, and has 12 additional cosponsors - an equal mix of Republicans and Democrats.
  • House members have also introduced a bipartisan companion bill to the Trade Review Act of 2025.
  • President Trump's chaotic tariffs-first trade policy has caused economic chaos across the country, whipsawing American businesses and consumers, as well as close neighbors and allies.
  • Federal Reserve Chairman Powell recently warned that the risks to higher inflation and unemployment have increased due to the tariffs.
  • The World Bank has cut its forecast for U.S. economic growth in 2025 in half and warned that the world economy "is once more running into turbulence" due to a "substantial rise in trade barriers."

Statistics:

  • 30 Senators, including Senator Maria Cantwell, have joined the amicus brief challenging the Trump Administration's abuse of emergency powers.
  • The bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025 has 12 additional cosponsors - an equal mix of Republicans and Democrats.
  • 2 out of every 5 jobs in Washington state are tied to trade and trade-related industries.
  • The Federal Reserve has found that all 12 Federal Reserve Districts "indicated that higher tariff rates were putting upward pressure on costs and prices."
  • The World Bank has cut its forecast for U.S. economic growth in 2025 in half.

Sources:

  • United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell 06.11.25 Cantwell Joins Amicus Brief Challenging Trump Administration Abuse of Emergency Powers to Impose Arbitrary and Reckless Tariffs
  • MIL OSI USA News (http://milnz.co.nz/mil-osi-aggregation/)
  • Contify.com