In a rare bipartisan rebuke of the White House’s economic agenda, the House of Representatives voted Wednesday to overturn President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian imports.
The measure passed by a narrow 219-211 margin, with six Republican lawmakers joining all but one Democrat in opposing the president’s trade policy.
The resolution, sponsored by Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks, would terminate the national emergency Trump declared in 2025 to justify the tariffs on Canada.
- The House passed a bipartisan resolution 219-211 to overturn Trump's tariffs on Canadian imports, with six Republicans joining Democrats.
- The resolution aims to end the national emergency declared in 2025 that justified 35% tariffs on Canadian goods.
- Supporters argue tariffs raised costs for American families and strained U.S.-Canada relations.
- Trump condemned the vote, warning Republicans they’d face election consequences for opposing tariffs.
Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on Canadian imports last year
Image credits: Al Drago/Getty Images
Supporters of the move said the tariffs have raised costs for American families and strained relations with one of America’s closest allies.
“Today’s vote is simple, very simple: will you vote to lower the cost of living for the American family, or will you keep prices high out of loyalty to one person — Donald J. Trump?” Meeks said on the House floor.
The tariffs were first imposed under a national emergency declaration Trump signed at the start of his second term and are currently sitting at 35%, although many of the goods are exempt under the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA).
The administration argued that the flow of illicit drugs, including fentanyl, across the Canadian border constituted an “unusual and extraordinary” threat, providing authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping duties on Canadian goods.
Image credits: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Six Republicans broke ranks with GOP leadership to back the resolution to end those tariffs.
They included Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Rep. Kevin Kiley of California, Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington, and Rep. Jeff Hurd of Colorado.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson sought to prevent the vote, arguing lawmakers should wait for a pending Supreme Court decision on the legality of the tariffs before acting.
That effort failed when enough Republicans joined Democrats to advance the resolution.
Bacon said Congress should not cede its authority over trade policy to the executive branch.
Image credits: J. David Ake/Getty Images
“Why doesn’t Congress stand on its own two feet and say that we’re an independent branch?” he said. “We should defend our authorities. I hope the Supreme Court does, but if we don’t do it, shame on us.”
Trump condemned the House vote and warned Republicans who supported it that they could face political consequences.
“Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against tariffs will seriously suffer the consequences come election time, and that includes Primaries,” he wrote on Truth Social.
He added, “TARIFFS have given us Economic and National Security, and no Republican should be responsible for destroying this privilege.”
Trump warned Republicans they would face consequences for disobeying him
Image credits: Donald Trump
For the resolution to take effect, it would need to pass the Senate and then be signed by the president or have a veto overridden.
A veto override would require two-thirds majorities in both chambers — a threshold supporters do not have.
Despite the unlikelihood of the bill becoming law, Meeks welcomed the support in forcing and winning a House vote.
“For months, Republicans blocked a vote on Trump’s illegal tariffs, choosing procedural games over their responsibility to the people they represent,” he said.
“Today, Democrats, joined by several Republicans, were able to force that vote and put Republicans on record.”
Image credits: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
“The question was simple: stand with working families and lower costs, or keep prices high out of loyalty to Donald Trump? House Democrats will continue fighting to lower costs, even if most Republicans won’t.”
It comes after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case challenging the use of emergency powers to impose tariffs in November last year.
Justices questioned whether the IEEPA truly authorizes broad trade duties, noting that the power to tax is typically reserved for Congress.
The Supreme Court’s opinion is still pending months after oral argument, and industry analysts expect a decision could have a wide impact on U.S. trade policy.
If Justices rule against Trump, it is expected that the administration could have to fork out over $100 billion in refunds.
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