Center for New Liberalism Crowns Eight ‘Free Trade Titans’ as Trump Escalates Tariffs on European Allies
WASHINGTON – Today, the Center for New Liberalism (CNL) released its Senate Tariff & Trade Response Index, evaluating members of the United States Senate on their opposition to the Trump Administration’s economically devastating tariffs, and their support for pro-growth trade policies that lower costs.
The release of this index comes as the Supreme Court continues to deliberate on the legality of IEEPA tariffs and just days after the White House announced a 10% tariff on eight European nations as a pressure tactic to force the sale of Greenland to the United States. The Center for New Liberalism is ramping up its advocacy efforts around Trump’s trade wars, and is urging Congress to take action and reclaim their constitutional authority over tariffs, regardless of the outcome of the case.
“Donald Trump’s reckless protectionism continues to raise costs for American families, but there are still leaders in the Senate who are working across the aisle to tell the truth: tariffs are nothing more than a tax on everyday Americans,” said Colin Mortimer, Director of the Center for New Liberalism. “Whether it’s Senators Rand Paul and John Hickenlooper fighting for Kentucky Bourbon or Colorado’s craft brewers, or Senators Murray and Cantwell defending Washington’s fruit export industry, these free trade titans are working to be the firewall against Donald Trump’s devastating trade war.”
Based on their votes, public statements, and legislative efforts, the following Senators earned the highest score from CNL and are recognized as CNL’s Free Trade Titans in the Senate:
Sen. Maria Cantwell
Sen. Chris Coons
Sen. John Hickenlooper
Sen. Tim Kaine
Sen. Patty Murray
Sen. Rand Paul
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
Sen. Ron Wyden
Other Key Findings from the Senate Tariff & Trade Response Index:
Both of Kentucky’s Republican Senators stood out as strong opponents of tariffs, sticking to their values as lifelong supporters of free trade and its benefits for the state of Kentucky.
Only 4 states had both Senators receive A+ or A grades on the index: Washington, Colorado, Virginia, and New Hampshire. Of those four, only Washington had both senators earn the “Free Trade Titan” title.
The Republican Party has fallen far from its past support for free trade. A stunning 33 Republican Senators received A+, A, or B grades for their “Pre-Trump Trade Record”, which tracked their votes on trade-related legislation prior to 2025, but received overall F grades on the index due to their current embrace of Donald Trump’s protectionist agenda.
The full index provides a breakdown of how each Senator scored on key metrics, including their record on trade issues prior to Donald Trump’s second term, their votes on key trade-related votes in 2025, and their messaging and statements around Trump’s tariffs. CNL will use the scorecard to inform grassroots advocacy efforts across the country and to recognize those Senators who stand up for pro-growth economic policies that lower costs for Americans.
About the Center for New Liberalism
The Center for New Liberalism is a digital-first grassroots organization advancing liberal values at a time when they are under growing threat. Founded in 2017 as a hub for a global movement of center-left activists, the organization has grown to more than 50 chapters worldwide, including over 40 in the United States and a dozen abroad.
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Media Contact: Corrine Jeffries – corrine@cnliberalism.org
