WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed legislation to overturn newly imposed tariffs on Canadian imports, dealing a bipartisan blow to President Donald Trump just hours after he announced sweeping new duties on foreign goods.
The Senate voted 51-48 in favor of the bill, with four Republican senators joining Democrats to push it through.
The measure now heads to the House of Representatives, where its fate remains uncertain, as Republican leadership is expected to shelve it.
The legislation seeks to terminate a national emergency declared by Trump on January 22, which he linked to illegal fentanyl imports from Mexico, Canada, and China.
That emergency designation was the basis for imposing steep tariffs on Canadian goods, a move that has sparked backlash from businesses and lawmakers alike.
Republicans Defy Trump’s Pressure
In an effort to block the bill, Trump personally urged four key Republican senators—Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), and Rand Paul (Kentucky)—to reject it. However, all four broke ranks and voted with Democrats.
Collins, in a speech before the vote, warned that Trump’s tariffs would harm industries in her home state, particularly paper manufacturers reliant on Canadian pulp.
Paul also criticized the tariffs, calling them economically harmful and unnecessary.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), however, stood by Trump, arguing that lifting the tariffs would weaken efforts to combat drug smuggling.
“Will the cartels simply shift tactics and expand their operations to the north?” he asked. “I think we can be confident the answer to that question is yes.”
Trade Deal Dispute
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, who sponsored the bill, argued that the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)—a trade deal Trump himself championed—already includes mechanisms for resolving trade disputes, making the tariffs unnecessary.
Public data contradicts the administration’s justification for the tariffs, showing that only about 0.2% of fentanyl seized in the U.S. comes across the Canadian border.
