No Tariffs on Groceries Act of 2025

Bill Number

S. 3229

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Foreign Trade and International Finance

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-11-20: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Last Updated

2026-01-07T12:03:26Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "No Tariffs on Groceries Act of 2025" aims to restrict the President's ability to unilaterally impose tariffs (taxes on imported goods) or tariff-rate quotas (limits on import quantities with different tax rates) on food-related items. It seeks to protect consumers from potential price increases on groceries by requiring Congressional approval for such actions.

Key Provisions

• Presidential Limitation: Starting from the date of enactment, the President cannot impose duties or tariff-rate quotas on "articles of food" without first submitting a request to Congress and obtaining approval through a joint resolution (a bill passed by both the House and Senate and signed into law).
• Exception: The restriction does not apply to antidumping duties (taxes to prevent foreign goods from being sold below fair market value) or countervailing duties (taxes to offset foreign government subsidies), which are handled under existing trade laws.
• Joint Resolution Process:
• Any member of Congress can introduce a joint resolution within 45 days of the President's request.
• The resolution must specifically approve the proposed duty or quota, including a description of the food item and the submission date.
• Expedited procedures from the Trade Act of 1974 apply, which include fast-track debate rules, limited amendments, and a requirement for votes within set timeframes to speed up consideration.
• Definition of "Article of Food": Broadly covers:
• Food for human or animal consumption.
• Ingredients used in animal food.
• Agricultural commodities (like crops or livestock products).
• Packaging for these items.
• Seeds, fertilizers, manures, and agro-chemicals (pesticides or similar farming chemicals).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill modifies the President's trade authority under laws like the Trade Act of 1974 and the Tariff Act of 1930 by requiring explicit Congressional approval for food-related tariffs, which previously could be imposed more independently by the executive branch.
• It establishes new procedural rules for Congress, treating the approval process as internal House and Senate rules that can be changed but supersede conflicting ones only for this purpose.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Could help keep grocery and food prices lower by preventing sudden tariffs that raise import costs, benefiting consumers and low-income households who spend a larger share of income on food.
• On Government Agencies: Trade agencies like the U.S. Trade Representative or Customs and Border Protection may face delays in implementing food tariffs, requiring coordination with Congress. Agricultural agencies (e.g., USDA) could see indirect effects on farm exports if retaliatory tariffs from other countries arise.
• On International Relations: Might signal to trading partners (e.g., Canada, Mexico, or the EU) a more predictable U.S. trade policy on food, potentially reducing trade disputes but limiting the President's leverage in negotiations over agricultural issues.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Consumers and Retailers: Grocery shoppers and stores, who could avoid higher prices on imported foods.
• Farmers and Agricultural Producers: U.S. and foreign farmers, as tariffs could affect exports or imports of seeds, fertilizers, and commodities.
• Importers and Exporters: Food import businesses and international trade partners, facing potential barriers or stability in supply chains.
• Congress and the President: Shifts decision-making power toward lawmakers, potentially leading to more debate on trade policy.
• Food Industry: Manufacturers, packagers, and suppliers of animal feed or agro-chemicals.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's Article I power to regulate commerce and impose tariffs, checking executive overreach in trade matters without altering the overall balance of powers.
• Legal: The bill's rulemaking clause allows it to function as procedural law within Congress, but it could face challenges if seen as overly restrictive on executive trade authority; the exception preserves existing remedies against unfair trade practices.
• Political: May spark debates on national security or economic protectionism in agriculture, as it limits quick presidential responses to trade imbalances. If enacted, it could set a precedent for Congressional involvement in other tariff categories, influencing future trade legislation.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]

Cosponsors (1)

Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

Recent Actions

• 2025-11-20: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
• 2025-11-20: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• No Tariffs on Groceries Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-20 — PDF (4 pages)