Four Republicans help Democrats pass measure to end Canadian tariffs

Olivia M. Bridges, CQ-Roll Call on Apr 2, 2025

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WASHINGTON — Four Republicans joined Democrats in the Senate to pass, 51-48, a joint resolution Wednesday that would effectively end President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on Canadian goods in a vote that revealed GOP resistance to the administration’s sweeping trade agenda.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was a co-sponsor of the measure offered by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, along with Paul, voted in support of the resolution. Republicans had previously been largely uncritical of Trump’s trade agenda.

“It is crucial that we remain a dependent and vibrant global trading partner, particularly with Canada,” Collins said, raising concerns about the impact on aquaculture, manufacturing, tourism and other industries. “These tariffs on Canada would jeopardize current jobs and also block future ones.”

Trump’s tariffs have caused turmoil in Canada, where many consumers and shops are boycotting American products and refusing to travel to the U.S. Passenger bookings from Canada to the U.S. are down 70 percent from last year, according to OAG Aviation Worldwide Ltd., a group that provides data on aviation.

There is also concern that the tariffs could impact U.S. national defense capabilities.

Kaine’s measure would end Trump’s national emergency that was the basis for his decision to impose a 10% tariff on Canadian energy products and potash and 25% tariffs on all other products that don’t enter the country under the 2020 U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade.

The president’s executive order declaring the emergency said the intent was to get Canada to address the flow of fentanyl and immigration crossing the border to the U.S.

Collins said that less than 1% of fentanyl was trafficked through Canada in fiscal 2024.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said 43 pounds of fentanyl were seized at the northern border in fiscal 2024, and 12 pounds so far in fiscal 2025. By contrast, almost 21,150 pounds were seized at the southwestern border in 2024 and almost 6,000 pounds were seized so far in 2025.

“I commend him for taking far stronger actions to halt this dangerous and deadly flow than did the previous administration,” Collins said about Trump. “I do not, however, agree with his invoking the powers of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs on Canadian goods and products.”

Kaine and other Democrats said Trump is misusing his emergency powers under the 1977 law.

“Congress wanted to give the president tools to deal with adversaries, nations that were enemies, cartels, rogue states, dictators. IEEPA was not designed to be used against allies,” Kaine said on the floor. “It does not say that the president’s actions against adversaries should include tariffs.”

The president took to his social media platform Truth Social overnight to criticize Republicans willing to vote for Kaine’s bill. He singled out Paul, Collins, Murkowski and McConnell.

“They are playing with the lives of the American people, and right into the hands of the Radical Left Democrats and Drug Cartels,” Trump wrote. “The Senate Bill is just a ploy of the Dems to show and expose the weakness of certain Republicans, namely these four, in that it is not going anywhere because the House will never approve it and I, as your President, will never sign it.

“To the people of the Great States of Kentucky, Alaska, and Maine, please contact these Senators and get them to FINALLY adhere to Republican Values and Ideals. They have been extremely difficult to deal with and, unbelievably disloyal to hardworking Majority Leader John Thune, and the Republican Party,” he said.

But Trump also seemed to think that tariffs are levied on fentanyl being smuggled across the border. His Truth Social post urged the Republicans to get on the bandwagon “by Tariffing the value of this horrible and deadly drug in order to make it more costly to distribute and buy.”

Paul took note of the comment on the Senate floor. “One of the social media posts today said there was going to be a tariff on fentanyl,” he said. “Really? Do you think the drug dealers are going to pay a tariff on fentanyl? Fentanyl’s not being tariffed.”

Most Senate Republicans backed the president.

Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said that the northern border is a “hot spot for terror suspects, for drug cartels.” Over 140 terror suspects have been apprehended at the border this year, according to Barrasso.

“The security of both our nations depends upon it. The best way to protect our communities is to secure our borders. Now this is not what Senator Kaine’s resolution does,” Barrasso said.

“Fortunately, for the safety of the American people, the House of Representatives will not take up this piece of legislation — if it even passes,” Barrasso said. “It’s never going to make it to President Trump’s desk.”

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