The plan
- The Senate approves by 51 votes to 47 the resolution to reverse most of the global tariffs imposed by Trump.
- Four Republicans join Democrats, exposing divisions within the GOP.
- Democrats are using a decades-old law to challenge presidential emergency powers.
- The resolution is unlikely to become law due to House rules and the presidential veto.
WASHINGTON — The Senate passed a resolution Thursday that would roll back many of President Donald Trump’s tariffs around the world, the latest note of discontent with his trade tactics in Washington that came just as the president celebrated his negotiations with China as a success.
But in Washington, senators — including several from Trump’s Republican Party — demonstrated their disagreement with Trump’s tariff tactics by passing a series of resolutions this week that would overturn the national emergencies declared by Trump to justify the import taxes. Already this week, the Senate approved resolutions to end tariffs imposed on Brazil and Canada. Even if the legislative efforts are ultimately doomed to failure, they have exposed fault lines within the Republican Party.
The latest resolution, which would effectively end most of Trump’s tariff policies, passed by a vote of 51 to 47, with four Republicans joining all Democrats.
Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who supported Democrats on the resolutions, credited Trump with reducing tariffs on China but said the result was “still much higher than what we had.”
“It will still lead to an increase in prices,” he said.
The votes were orchestrated by Democrats using a decades-old law that allows Congress to override a presidential emergency. But House Republicans instituted a new rule that allows leaders to block such resolutions from being put to a vote. Additionally, Trump would surely veto legislation that would impede his power over trade policy, meaning the legislation would ultimately not go into effect.
Democrats can force a vote but not a result
But Democrats still managed to force the Senate to address a subject uncomfortable for their Republican colleagues.
Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, the Democrat behind the resolutions, said the price hikes caused by the tariffs would force Republicans to break with Trump. “It will become untenable for them to turn a blind eye and say, ‘I’m committed to doing whatever the president wants to do,'” Kaine told reporters.
“American families are being crushed by ever-rising prices,” Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, said in a speech. He added that “in many ways, red states in rural areas are the hardest hit,” and highlighted the economic pressures on farmers and manufacturers.
How Republicans view Trump’s trade policy
Overall, there has been little movement among Republicans to publicly oppose Trump’s import taxes. A nearly identical resolution failed in April on a tied vote after Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was absent. On Thursday, McConnell and Paul, along with Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, voted with all Democrats to pass the resolution.
These four Republicans helped advance similar resolutions this week to end tariffs on Brazil and Canada. Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, also voted in favor of the resolution applicable to Brazil, but otherwise Republican senators this week held the line behind the president.
“I agree with my colleagues that tariffs should be more targeted to avoid harming Americans,” Sen. Mike Crapo, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a speech. Still, he added that Trump’s negotiations are “bearing fruit” and welcomed his announcement that Beijing would allow the export of rare earths and resume buying U.S. soybeans.
Republicans representing farm states were particularly excited by the announcement that China would buy 25 million tons of soybeans annually, starting with 10 million tons for the rest of this year.
Sen. Roger Marshall, Republican of Kansas, said the China deal “absolutely” justifies Trump’s use of tariff threats to negotiate his trade policy with other countries. He called the announcement “big news” for Kansas farmers, but also acknowledged they would likely still need financial assistance to deal with the loss of their largest customer for soybeans and sorghum.
China was until this year the largest buyer of American soybeans. It purchased nearly 27 million tons in 2024, so the Trump-brokered deal only guarantees soy exports to China will return to less than their previous levels.
Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, called the purchase deal “a start.”
Asked whether he agreed with Trump’s assessment that his meeting with Xi had been a roaring success, Cramer smiled and said the president “is nothing if not optimistic.”
What it signals
The Senate’s 51-47 vote represents a rare bipartisan check on presidential trade powers, undercutting Trump’s use of emergency authority to impose broad tariffs. The Guardian+2enr.com+2
It signals growing concern, especially among business groups and some Republicans, that the tariffs have dragged on domestic supply chains, increased costs for materials and consumers, and injected economic uncertainty. enr.com+1
It may shift the tone of U.S. trade policy: moving away from blanket tariffs toward more targeted approaches, potentially easing relations with trading partners who have been hit hardest. The Guardian+1
What it doesn’t immediately do
The resolution is symbolic for now. Because of rules in the House of Representatives and a likely veto from the president, the tariffs are not instantly reversed. enr.com+1
Even if major tariffs are rolled back, the underlying economic pressures remain: supply-chain disruptions, cost inflation, and global trade friction. The transition could be messy rather than smooth.
Markets and companies will still face uncertainty. The vote signals a change in direction but not a guaranteed or immediate change in policy.
Why this matters now
For businesses and manufacturers: a potential easing of import duties could lower costs, especially for materials like steel, aluminum and copper where tariffs had major impacts. enr.com
For global trade relations: trading partners who have been targeted or affected may see this as a door opening for renegotiation or relief.
For domestic politics: the vote may reflect fractures within the Republican Party over trade strategy—and could influence mid-term or next-cycle dynamics. New York Post+1
For policy precedent: it raises questions about how much trade policy will be driven by executive orders/emergency powers vs. by Congress. Reutersad_2]
Source link
#Senate #passes #resolution #reverse #Trumps #global #tariffs
