Bipartisan Effort To Stop Trump’s Canada Tariffs Advances

The Senate voted 51-48 to block President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian imports, setting up a constitutional showdown over trade policy and executive power that faces significant hurdles before it could become law.

Key Takeaways

The Senate passed a bipartisan resolution to terminate the national emergency on fentanyl that Trump used to justify tariffs on Canada
Prominent Republicans including Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski broke with Trump to support the measure
The resolution faces significant challenges, including an expected presidential veto and uncertain prospects in the Republican-controlled House
Senator Rand Paul led Republican opposition to the tariffs, arguing they would harm American families and that tariff authority constitutionally belongs to Congress
Trump criticized the resolution as a Democratic scheme that would undermine his effort to combat fentanyl trafficking

Senate Rebukes Presidential Tariff Authority

In a significant bipartisan moment, the Senate voted 51-48 to pass a resolution aimed at blocking President Trump’s planned tariffs on Canadian imports. The measure, sponsored by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), specifically targets the national emergency declaration on fentanyl that Trump used to justify imposing tariffs on America’s northern neighbor. Several key Republicans crossed party lines to support the measure, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

The vote represents what Politico described as “the most significant rebuke to Trump that congressional Republicans have yet mustered in his second term.” The resolution challenges not just the specific tariffs but raises broader questions about the scope of presidential authority over trade policy. Trump has made expanding tariffs a centerpiece of his economic agenda since returning to office, implementing tariffs on various nations and products through executive action rather than through Congress.

Nobody was explaining the Senate resolution to block the national emergency declaration. It would be only symbolic without the House and a Veto-proof majority. So it sounds like tariffs will proceed.https://t.co/l1NIiSEVTL

— Warren Togami (@wtogami) April 2, 2025

Constitutional Questions and Economic Impacts

Senator Rand Paul led Republican opposition to the tariffs, raising constitutional objections to the president’s authority to impose what he characterized as taxes without congressional approval. Paul has been consistent in his criticism of executive overreach on trade policy across administrations, arguing that tariffs are a form of taxation that constitutionally requires congressional authorization. He specifically questioned the link between Canada and the fentanyl crisis that forms the basis of Trump’s emergency declaration.

“We’re not at war with Canada. They’re an ally that buys more of our stuff than almost any other country in the world,” Paul said.

Republicans who supported the resolution emphasized both constitutional principles and practical economic concerns. Senator Susan Collins cited the potential impact on American consumers already struggling with inflation. She pointed out that price increases resulting from tariffs would disproportionately harm working families and those who can least afford them. Collins also challenged the factual basis for the emergency declaration, noting that most fentanyl entering the United States comes across the southern border, not from Canada.

Trump’s Response and Path Forward

President Trump reacted strongly to the Senate resolution, criticizing Republicans who supported it and framing the issue as Democrats attempting to undermine his anti-drug trafficking efforts. In social media posts, Trump characterized the resolution as blocking “our critical Tariffs on deadly Fentanyl” and predicted it would be “devastating for the Republican Party.” He has made it clear that he would veto any such resolution that reached his desk.

“The fact is the vast majority of fentanyl in America comes from the southern border,” said Susan Collins.

The resolution now faces significant hurdles before it could potentially become law. Even if it were to pass the Republican-controlled House, which remains uncertain, Trump has explicitly stated he “will never sign it.” To override a presidential veto would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers, a threshold that seems unattainable given current party alignments. Additionally, House procedures would require the resolution to go through committee processes rather than coming directly to the floor for a vote.

Despite these challenges, supporters view the resolution as an important statement about congressional authority over trade policy. Senator Tim Kaine, the Democratic co-sponsor, framed the issue not just as opposition to specific tariffs but as resistance to governance by emergency declaration, a practice that has expanded across administrations of both parties. The vote highlights ongoing tensions between Congress and the executive branch over trade authority that predates the current administration but has intensified under President Trump’s aggressive tariff policies.