Senate Votes Against Trump Tariffs

The Senate once again pushed back against tariffs put in place by President Trump, voting against the 50% tariff on Brazilian beef imports.  Senators voted 52-48 this week to end the national emergency declared by Trump in order to impose the duties. 

Five Republican Senators, including Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, both from Kentucky, joined Democrats in approving the move.  Politico said it’s the first in a series of three resolutions intended to stop the president’s tariffs on Brazil and Canada, as well as Trump’s tariffs on other countries.

The vote does remain largely symbolic because of the House of Representatives, in which Republican leadership blocked the chamber from a potential vote to block the tariffs until March.  

Ron Wyden Speaks Out Against Trump Tariffs

"There are eight million American jobs that depend on trade with Canada," said Oregon senator Ron Wyden, a supporter of this week's legislation.  "Canada is the biggest export market for 32 American states. Trump’s trade war is destroying jobs and making Americans poorer.

"And since national security was one of the rationales for the Trump trade taxes on Canada, I must point out that his trade war against our close ally is making Americans less safe," Wyden said.  "For one, Canada is a reliable source of energy, raw materials, and critical minerals that China has repeatedly used as a bargaining chip in trade talks. Critical minerals are essential to manufacturing in the high-tech and defense industries.

"Donald Trump’s own administration has invested millions in developing the Canadian critical minerals industry, as an alternative to China’s near monopoly. But instead of developing Canada as an alternative to China for raw materials, Donald Trump is driving our closest ally straight into China’s arms. The Canadian prime minister said last week that his country is looking to “re-engage” with India and China to find new markets and new allies that are more reliable than the United States.

"America would get better results on trade by buying spells from an Etsy witch," Wyden continued. 

Very Little Fentanyl Is Coming In From Canada

"Trump’s stated reason for blowing up commerce between our two nations is fentanyl trafficking. Colleagues, I take a backseat to no one when it comes to cracking down on the scourge of fentanyl. Oregon is no stranger to the devastating effects it has wreaked on our communities. But reality is, there is no crisis at the Northern Border. Less than 0.2% of fentanyl entering the United States comes from Canada.

"Some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have voiced concerns about tariffs, but said they want to give Donald Trump more time to strike a deal. I would ask, what in the past six months makes you think this is going to get better? Instead of negotiating, Trump is spending his energy throwing tantrums about TV ads that accurately quote Ronald Reagan’s position on tariffs. He’s already increased these tariffs on Canada once. He’s now threatening to jack up the Canada tariffs by another 10 percent because one of their provinces took out that Reagan ad. Who would make a deal with a person who throws fits like this, who ignores a deal they made just a few years ago, and who constantly threatens to annex their country, as Trump has done with Canada?

"These tariffs are doing nothing to help Americans," Wyden added.  "They are unrelated to any trade dispute. I urge every Senator to vote to repeal the taxes on Canadian goods and help lower costs for our constituents."

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