Key Points:
- The House voted 219-211 to overturn tariffs on Canada.
- Six Republicans defied Trump’s threats to join the Democrats.
- The vote aims to end a national emergency declaration regarding drugs.
- Trump warned that defectors would face consequences in the election.
The House of Representatives delivered a significant blow to President Trump’s economic agenda on Wednesday. In a tight vote of 219-211, lawmakers passed a resolution to end the national emergency that allows the President to impose tariffs on Canadian goods. This marks a rare victory for opponents of the administration’s aggressive trade policies.
Six Republicans broke ranks to join Democrats in passing the measure. Representatives Thomas Massie, Don Bacon, Brian Fitzpatrick, Jeff Hurd, Kevin Kiley, and Dan Newhouse voted “yes,” ignoring direct warnings from the President.
Earlier in the week, Trump posted on Truth Social that any Republican who opposed his tariffs would “seriously suffer the consequences” during the upcoming election. Despite the threat, these lawmakers argued that tariffs act as a tax on American consumers and that Congress must reclaim its authority.
The resolution targets an emergency order Trump signed last February. The administration claimed tariffs were necessary to stop illegal drugs from entering the country through Canada. However, critics and fact-checkers note that the vast majority of fentanyl enters the U.S. through the southern border or comes from China. Lawmakers argued there is almost no evidence of a public health crisis caused by Canadian imports to justify these economic penalties.
This legislative revolt comes at a tense moment for North American trade. Washington is currently waiting for a Supreme Court ruling on whether the President has the legal authority to set tariffs unilaterally. Additionally, reports suggest Trump is considering pulling the U.S. out of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) entirely, with renegotiations set for this summer.
The resolution now moves to the Senate. While it has a strong chance of passing there due to bipartisan support, it faces a likely veto from President Trump. Even if it fails to become law, the vote serves as a strong symbolic rebuke. Democrats plan to force more votes on trade issues leading up to the midterm elections, hoping to highlight the economic costs of the President’s strategy.
