The Senate on Thursday approved a resolution that would repeal many of Donald Trump’s global tariffs, the latest sign of Washington’s disapproval of his trade approach, even as the president hailed his trade deal with China as a victory. The resolution passed on a 51-47 vote, with four Republicans siding with all Democrats.
Several senators, including some from Trump’s own GOP, have voiced their disapproval of his tariff strategies by passing a series of resolutions this week aimed at reversing domestic emergencies that Trump called on to justify import taxes. Earlier this week, the Senate approved a measure to end tariffs on Brazil and Canada. While these legislative attempts are unlikely to succeed, they have revealed divisions within the GOP, according to the AP.
The four Republicans also sponsored resolutions earlier this week to end tariffs on Brazil and Canada. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, voted in favor of the resolution on Brazil, but otherwise GOP senators have largely backed the president this week.
Sen. Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, who sponsored the resolution, acknowledged Trump’s reduction in tariffs on China, but noted that the levels “still (are) much higher than we’ve had, adding, ‘It’s still going to drive up prices.’
What did the Democrats say?
Democrats still managed to get the Senate to take up the contentious issue of their Republican colleagues.
Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, said during a speech on the floor: “America’s families are being squeezed by rising and rising and rising prices.” He added that “in many ways, red states in rural areas are the hardest hit,” and highlighted the economic pressure on farmers and manufacturers.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer warned that Americans should not be fooled by Trump’s announcement. The New York Democrat said: “Donald Trump has folded and left American families and farmers and small businesses to deal with the wreckage of his mistakes from his erratic tariff policies.
The vote was initiated by Democrats under a decades-old law that allows Congress to lift a presidential emergency. But House Republicans have introduced a new rule that allows party leadership to block such resolutions. In addition, Trump would almost certainly veto any legislation limiting his control over trade policy, meaning the measure is unlikely to go into effect, the report said.
Meanwhile, amid Trump’s announcement of tariff cuts on China, farm-state Republicans welcomed news that China would buy 25 million metric tons of soybeans annually, up from 10 million metric tons for the rest of this year.
Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, said the China deal “absolutely” justifies Trump’s use of tariff threats to negotiate trade deals with other countries. He called the announcement “tremendous news” for Kansas farmers, though he noted that financial help will likely still be needed to cope with the loss of their largest soybean and sorghum customer. He said: “It’s not like you can snap your finger and send over $15 billion worth of sorghum and soybeans overnight.”
