House Votes to Rescind Trump’s Canada Tariffs in Rare Rebuke

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 219-211 on Wednesday to terminate the national emergency used by President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on Canada. Six Republicans—Reps. Don Bacon, Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Kevin Kiley, Dan Newhouse, and Jeff Hurd—joined nearly all Democrats to pass the resolution. Representative Jared Golden was the sole Democrat to vote against the measure. The vote followed a failed attempt by Speaker Mike Johnson to block the resolution through a procedural rule change on Tuesday, which collapsed after several Republicans refused to support the maneuver intended to shield the administration's trade policy from legislative challenges.

The resolution now moves to the Senate, which has previously voted to block similar tariff measures. However, the legislation is unlikely to become law, as President Trump is expected to veto the measure, and neither chamber currently appears to have the two-thirds majority required for an override. Trump responded to the vote on social media, warning that any Republican who opposes his tariffs would "seriously suffer the consequences come Election time," including potential primary challenges. Speaker Johnson described the vote as a "fruitless exercise" given the president's veto power, though he expressed disappointment in the result.

The debate centered on the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches. Proponents of the resolution, including Representative Gregory Meeks, argued that the tariffs have increased the cost of living for American families and damaged relations with a key ally. Representative Don Bacon emphasized that Congress should defend its constitutional authority over trade rather than ceding it to the White House. Conversely, supporters of the tariffs, such as Representative Brian Mast, argued that the measures are necessary to address a national emergency regarding fentanyl smuggling, though data from the DEA and the Canadian government suggest that less than 1% of fentanyl enters the U.S. from the northern border.

The legislative action occurs amid ongoing economic concerns. Ford Motor Company recently reported a $900 million loss attributed to tariff costs, and studies from the Yale Budget Lab and the Tax Foundation estimate the annual cost of the administration's tariffs at between $1,000 and $1,400 per U.S. household. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on a case challenging the president's legal authority to unilaterally impose such levies.