A new bill to curtail congressional influence in the granting of tariff waivers should break the stalemate between Senate Republicans who want to pass the exemptions this year and those who view them as earmarks that fall under the congressional ban, its sponsor said today.

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said his bill has the backing of Senate Republican leaders and some Democrats who want to reform the system for approving the tariff relief measures without jeopardizing the proposals that must be passed this year.