GOP Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) said that he might consider a bill that rescinds tariff authority from the president back to Congress if he comes to believe President Donald Trump's tariff plan isn't working and is ultimately harming the country.

Kennedy appeared on CNN's "The Arena" for an interview in which the issue was discussed.

Host Kasie Hunt asked, “Is there a point at which you would consider supporting taking tariff authority back into congressional hands? There have been some efforts in the Senate to do that.”

Kennedy answered, “Well, if I finally concluded that what the president is proposing is not going to work or if the treatment is worse than the disease, sure. And I’m going to look at Sen. Grassley’s bill very closely, but I’m not there yet. I just don’t know. I’m not trying to pretend that I do. I’m not going to bubblewrap it. What I’ve seen so far, in terms of the stock market, it’s been painful. But what the…mid-term impact will be, Kasie, I don’t know, and nobody else does either.”

Unfairness?

Some in the GOP are terrified that Republicans could lose congressional majorities in 2026 if the economy falters or takes a downturn due to the tariffs Trump has imposed on other countries to address trade deficits and what he describes as "unfairness."

Many of the countries he put higher tariffs on have been charging the U.S. more for years or decades.

Corporate officials are worried that tariffs will lead to higher prices on goods like cars, food, and pretty much anything that comes from China.

Some in the GOP are worried that the tariffs will tank the economy and that voters will take it out on congressional Republicans.

A simple plan

Kennedy said that if he decides to support a congressional plan to take back control, his plan would be simple.

“I think he’ll be willing to recalibrate” by setting tariffs to zero if other countries do so, at least for a start.

The European Union already offered this plan to Trump, at least with regard to cars and industrial goods, but he said no because he also wants to address the trade deficit.

While the U.S. imports more goods from Europe than it exports to Europe, it exports more services than it imports.

Trump announced a 90-day pause on Wednesday of all tariffs except for those on China, even as Europe announced retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods and services, the Washington Post reported.

Tariffs on cars alone were expected to add about $5,000 to the average price of a car.