- Senate voted to undo Trump’s Canada tariffs, with 4 Republicans siding with Democrats — but the bill is symbolic and likely going nowhere.
- Trump blasted the move, tying the tariffs to fentanyl and national security, and promised to veto if needed.
- Businesses, mayors, and even the U.S. Chamber of Commerce say the tariffs are bad for the economy and everyday consumers.
Well, this just happened — the Senate voted to roll back the 25% tariffs that President Trump slapped on Canadian imports. It was a bipartisan move, technically… but mostly symbolic. Why? Because the House probably won’t touch it, and even if they did, Trump says he’d never sign it.
Still, it wasn’t just Democrats behind the push — four Republicans jumped on board: Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul. That raised a few eyebrows.
This whole thing came right after Trump announced a new 10% tariff on all imports coming into the U.S. Yeah, you read that right — everything.
So… Why the Tariffs? Fentanyl. Allegedly.
Trump’s team tied this new tariff push to an emergency order — claiming fentanyl is flooding in through the northern border, i.e., from Canada. The order frames it as a national security threat, which gives the President power to act without Congress (at least temporarily).
But critics — even some Republicans — are calling B.S. on that.
“This law wasn’t made for punishing allies like Canada,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, the resolution’s lead sponsor. “Tariffs are taxes. And Canada? Not the enemy.” His point: if you want to fight fentanyl, do it — but don’t hit beer brewers and lobster shippers in the process.
Trump: Not Having It. At All.
In true Trump fashion, he pre-blasted the bill before the Senate even voted. Posting early on Truth Social, he slammed the Republicans who backed it — calling them out by name: McConnell, Collins, Murkowski, Paul.
He said these senators were “playing with the lives of the American people” and helping the “Radical Left” and drug cartels. He doubled down that he’d never sign the bill, even if it somehow made it to his desk. “Not happening,” he posted.
Businesses Push Back: “You’re Gonna Feel This at the Store”
At a press event back in Virginia, Kaine stood alongside small business owners sounding the alarm. Bill Butcher, who runs Port City Brewing, said the tariffs could force him to raise beer prices from $12.99 to $18.99 for a six-pack.
“People are gonna go elsewhere,” he warned. “This hits us hard — just when we’re trying to grow.”
It’s not just beer. Maine’s Sen. Susan Collins pointed out that a wide swath of her state’s economy is intertwined with Canada — tourism, agriculture, seafood processing. “These tariffs would hit us right where it hurts — families, jobs, and the local economy,” she said.
The GOP Is Split — And It Shows
Most Senate Republicans still backed Trump, arguing the fentanyl emergency is real and removing the tariffs now would undercut efforts to stop the crisis.
Sen. John Thune said the resolution was shortsighted. “If we really want to fix this,” he said on the floor, “we have to tackle all of it, not just one piece. Lifting this emergency tells cartels to just reroute.”
But not all GOP voices agreed. Rand Paul, who often breaks from the party line, had a constitutional bone to pick: “This isn’t about party loyalty. I backed Trump. But one person cannot impose taxes on the American people. That’s Congress’ job, and our founders made that crystal clear.”
Chamber of Commerce, Mayors, Labor Orgs All Say: Bad Move
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce stepped in, siding with Kaine and co. “Tariffs are taxes,” they said in a statement. “And Americans are the ones paying them.” The group warned that price hikes are likely, and that the new tariffs violate the trade agreement negotiated during Trump’s own first term with Canada and Mexico.
They’re not alone. Labor unions, the Conference of U.S. Mayors, and retail groups also backed the resolution, adding pressure on Republicans to pump the brakes.
Bottom Line? The Vote Sends a Message, Not a Law
So yeah — the resolution passed in the Senate, but it’s not binding. The House isn’t expected to take it up, and even if it somehow did, Trump’s already promised to block it.
What it does do? Shine a light on growing divisions within the GOP, especially around how far executive power should go — and who actually gets to decide tax policy in this country.
