Rosen’s bill would bar tariffs on groceries without congressional approval

U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen wants lawmakers to prohibit President Donald Trump’s administration from levying tariffs on food and agriculture-based products without congressional approval, according to a bill the Nevada Democrat introduced Thursday.

If passed, the “No Tariffs on Groceries Act” would mandate that the president obtain congressional approval before imposing the fees, according to Rosen’s office.

A similar bill was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year.

“I’m proud to introduce this bill to help lower the cost of groceries by stopping Donald Trump from putting tariffs on the everyday essentials Americans rely on most,” said Rosen, one of Nevada’s two Democratic senators, in a statement. “I’m going to do everything in my power to pass this bill to fight against Trump’s harmful trade policies.”

Democratic members of the Senate’s Joint Economic Committee published a report this month that concluded that American families had seen inflation-related costs go up by an average of $700 during Trump’s second term.

The average increase in Nevada was $941, according to the report.

Trump has made tariffs and trade significant levers of his administration’s economic policies, claiming that they also help strengthen national security.

Responding to Rosen’s bill, the White House said Trump’s tariffs had “secured unprecedented trade deals and trillions in investment commitments to make and hire in America.”

Spokesperson Kush Desai took aim at Democrats whose votes prevented an agreement to fund the government, leading the the longest shutdown in history.

Rosen and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto were two of eight members of the Democratic caucus who helped Republicans overcome the filibuster to open the government earlier this month.

The Republican National Committee on Wednesday circulated a memo outlining price decreases for Thanksgiving Day foods.

“Nevada families are starting to see costs go down, thanks to President Trump fighting Bidenflation,” wrote RNC spokesperson Delanie Bomar, in a statement. “Democrats spent four years driving costs through the roof with reckless spending, but President Trump is fighting for working families this holiday season.”

A Wells Fargo post said that while the consumer price index was up 2.7 percent year over year, the “Thanksgiving menu” had fallen up to 3 percent in 2025, “depending on the shopper’s strategy.”

A holiday meal for 10 diners was expected to cost an average $80 this year, according to the bank’s analysts.

Congress has constitutional authority to regulate foreign commerce and levy tariffs. Over the years, the legislative branch has delegated some of those powers to the president.

Last week, Trump issued an executive order that rescinded reciprocal tariffs on items such as beef, coffee and tea, and some fruits and vegetables, according to the White House.

On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to bring down grocery prices starting “on day one” of his second term.

“Donald Trump lied to the American people when he promised to bring prices down ‘on day one,’” Rosen said in the statement. “His reckless tariffs have done the opposite, raising grocery costs and making it harder for hardworking families to put food on the table.”

Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com.