The reason Congress initially could not regulate trade from states or foreign countries was due to the limitations set forth in the Articles of Confederation. The Articles, which served as the first constitution of the United States, granted limited powers to the central government. Under the Articles, Congress had no authority to regulate commerce or impose tariffs on either interstate or foreign trade. This limited power of Congress in terms of regulating trade was a deliberate decision made by the Founding Fathers, as they feared a strong central government might impede the individual liberties and economic freedom of the states.
