The Senate on Wednesday held a vote to overturn President Donald Trump's plan to impose harsh tariffs on Canada. The resolution, which doesn't hold the force of law, passed the Senate with a 51 to 48 vote. Four Republicans joined their Democrat colleagues in voting against the tariffs.
Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Alaska's Lisa Murkowski and Kentucky's Mitch McConnell opposed the tariffs. The vote came after Trump made his "Liberation Day" announcements from the White House's Rose Garden, during which he announced reciprocal tariffs on nations around the globe.
Trump had levied tariffs against Canada in a move that created rancor between the United States and her northern neighbor. Canada is in the midst of a snap election where Prime Minister Mark Carney, who recently replaced Justin Trudeau as leader of the Liberal Party and as prime minister, will face off against Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre. The trade war with the United States is a key part of the conversation in that election.
In imposing those tariffs, Trump cited border security both for human and drug smuggling. Senate Majority Leader John Thune opposed those Republicans who opposed the tariffs, telling them that their vote would be nothing more than an embarrassment to Trump. The resolution was sponsored by Virginia Senator Tim Kaine.
"I urge my colleagues to oppose this resolution and ensure that President Trump has the tools that he needs to combat the flow of fentanyl from all directions," Thune told them.
Canada is one of America's largest trading partners. Carney has said that Canada will impose counter measure on the US in retaliation for Trump's tariffs. "We're in a situation where there's going ot be an impact on the US economy, which will build with time," Carney said.
"In our judgement it will be a negative on the US economy. That will have an impact on us, but the series of measures will directly affect millions of Canadians." He went on to say that they would "fight these tariffs with countermeasures. We are going to protect our workers and we are going to build the strongest economy in the G7. In a crisis, it's important to come together and it's essential to act with purpose and with force."
"Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Rand Paul, also of Kentucky, will hopefully get on the Republican bandwagon, for a change, and fight the Democrats wild and flagrant push to not penalize Canada for the sale, into our Country, of large amounts of Fentanyl, by Tariffing the value of this horrible and deadly drug in order to make it more costly to distribute and buy," Trump said ahead of the vote.
"They are playing with the lives of the American people, and right into the hands of the Radical Left Democrats and Drug Cartels," he continued. "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. Why are they allowing Fentanyl to pour into our Country unchecked, and without penalty. What is wrong with them, other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome, commonly known as TDS? Who can want this to happen to our beautiful families, and why? 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 itself. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
