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Congress should reassert its role in trade policy after the midterms

by Nicholas Sargen, opinion contributor - 10/23/26 9:30 AM ET

by Nicholas Sargen, opinion contributor - 10/23/26 9:30 AM ET

Canadian lumber products are shown at Gutherie Lumber Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Livonia, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

With the congressional midterm elections approaching, the overriding issue for voters is President Trump’s inability to improve their cost of living. Along with higher oil prices associated with the Iran war, Trump’s tariffs are unpopular.

The current situation is unusual in that tariffs traditionally have ranked near the bottom of U.S. voters’ policy priorities. The reason is that tariffs were low during the post-war era, and customers did not notice them. That is no longer the case.

Scott Lincicome of the Cato Institute recently highlighted the results of a Cato Institute-Morning Consults survey .…