The Senate voted Wednesday evening to revoke the emergency declaration President Donald Trump is using to impose duties on Canada, a bipartisan rebuke that came on the heels of his announcement of sweeping new global tariffs.
The vote marked the greatest legislative blemish of Trump’s second term and came just hours after he announced “Liberation Day” levies of 34% on China, 20% on the European Union, and up to 49% on dozens of other countries set to kick in over the coming days.
The measure required only a simple majority and cleared the GOP-led chamber 51-48.
Four Republican senators — Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Rand Paul (R-KY), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) — broke rank to vote with all Democrats over a mix of concerns about the rising costs of goods and perceived executive branch overreach. The measure would roll back Trump’s declared fentanyl emergency used to impose a 25% tariff on Canada.
WHICH ITEMS WOULD BE AFFECTED BY TRUMP’S PROPOSED TARIFFS ON CANADA AND MEXICO
The resolution, led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) via a privileged resolution that GOP leadership was forced to bring to the floor, is meant to send a political message to Trump but will ultimately not change policy. The GOP-led House approved language earlier this year that prevents members from terminating Trump’s declarations, and Congress would lack a veto-proof majority to roll it back.
Still, the episode will mark the first significant policy revolt of Trump’s second term, with Democrats successfully capitalizing on GOP angst over what some believe is a retreat from free trade.