On February 5, Sen. Cantwell delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling for the United States to establish new trade agreements and to repudiate the trade philosophy of President Donald Trump.
Establish new trade agreements and repudiate the trade philosophy of President Donald Trump.
Occurrences
Evidence
In a speech on the Senate floor, Senator Maria Cantwell advocated for the United States to establish new trade agreements with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, and to repudiate President Donald Trump's trade philosophy, which she criticized for proposing tariffs that could harm the economy and compromise U.S. global leadership.
Senators Maria Cantwell and Chuck Grassley introduced the bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025, aiming to reaffirm Congress' role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy and to limit the president's ability to impose unilateral tariffs without congressional approval.
In an interview on CNBC, Senator Cantwell criticized President Trump's aggressive use of tariffs, describing it as a 'tariff tantrum' and advocating for opening export markets and lowering costs for American consumers instead.
Senator Cantwell criticized the Trump Administration's $12 billion aid package to farmers affected by trade wars, stating that Washington farmers prefer the ability to export their goods globally over receiving bailouts.
Senator Cantwell expressed concern over the impact of President Trump's tariff increases on Washington state's economy, highlighting potential cost increases for consumers and challenges for small businesses and manufacturers.
During a Senate Finance Committee hearing, Senator Cantwell questioned U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer about the administration's implementation of tariffs without sufficient congressional input, expressing concern over the economic impact.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed Senator Cantwell's Trade Review Act, which aims to reassert Congress' constitutional role in setting tariffs and regulating foreign commerce.
Senator Cantwell released a statement regarding the Supreme Court's decision declaring President Trump's tariffs illegal, highlighting the relief it brings to consumers and businesses affected by higher prices.
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell released a statement regarding the Supreme Court's decision declaring President Trump's tariffs illegal, highlighting the relief it brings to consumers and businesses affected by higher prices.
Senators Cantwell and Murray introduced legislation requiring the Trump Administration to refund, with interest, tariffs deemed illegal by the Supreme Court, prioritizing small businesses in the refund process.
Cantwell sent an FTC letter about grocery-chain anti-competitive practices and warned that "the latest round of tariffs" could threaten further spikes in grocery prices.
GovInfo’s Congressional Record Index for the Senate Commerce Committee includes an entry for "CHINA TRADE CHEATING RESTITUTION ACT" under Cantwell-related committee indexing.
Assessments
Cantwell clearly opposed Trump’s tariff-centered trade philosophy and made serious same-term efforts, including floor speeches, hearings, public criticism, and co-sponsoring the Trade Review Act to reassert congressional control over tariffs. However, the evidence does not show that new trade agreements were established or that the promised trade-policy shift was enacted. The record supports substantial effort, not fulfillment of the promised outcome.
The evidence shows that Senator Cantwell consistently opposed and sought to repudiate President Trump's trade philosophy, introducing and supporting multiple legislative efforts to reverse or mitigate the effects of Trump's trade policy, including the Trade Review Act and legislation to refund illegal tariffs. She also repeatedly advocated for new trade agreements and criticized the administration's strategies. However, there is no direct evidence that new major trade agreements were established as a direct result of her actions, nor that the full philosophical repudiation or replacement occurred at the legislative or executive level. Therefore, the promise was partially fulfilled, with significant effort demonstrated.
The evidence shows that Senator Cantwell strongly repudiated President Trump's trade philosophy through public statements, Senate hearings, and by introducing legislation (the Trade Review Act) aimed at curbing presidential tariff powers. She consistently advocated for new trade agreements and opposed Trump's tariffs. However, there is no direct evidence that she succeeded in establishing new trade agreements herself; her efforts were significant in opposition and in legislative attempts to change the philosophy and structure of trade policy, but did not fully deliver both parts of the promise (repudiation and new agreements).