Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden (D-OR), praised the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of legislation to repeal President Donald Trump’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs on Canada. The senators led bipartisan legislation in the Senate to challenge Trump’s tariffs on Canada, and it passed the Senate in February by a 50-46 vote. The House legislation was led by U.S. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY-05). The House’s vote comes after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) used a procedural loophole to prevent privileged resolutions like this one from receiving a vote on the House floor last year.

 “It is unacceptable that Virginians and businesses across the Commonwealth are paying the price for Trump’s misguided trade war with Canada,” said Sen. Warner. “It is Congress’s responsibility to intervene and put an end to the President’s reckless policies that are inflating costs for working families and destroying the U.S.’s bilateral relationship with one of our closest allies and trading partners. I am glad the House has broken Speaker Johnson’s blockade and joined the Senate in voting to remove these tariffs on Canada.”

“President Trump’s tariffs on Canada have weakened our economy and caused millions of Americans to pay more for everyday goods, businesses to lose revenue, and tourism to the United States to decline,” said Sen. Kaine. “I’m glad the House finally joined us in passing bipartisan legislation that would repeal President Trump’s tariffs on our longstanding ally Canada. Today’s vote makes clear that the American people aren’t interested in the higher prices and economic uncertainty created by President Trump’s chaotic trade policies. The Senate should pass it to once again rebuff these ridiculous tariffs.”

“Congress has sent President Trump a clear, bipartisan message: he cannot continue to abuse his power and unilaterally wage a trade war against one of our strongest allies. Canada is Minnesota’s top trading partner, but these chaotic tariffs are jeopardizing that relationship—and increasing costs for Minnesota families,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “We can’t afford to keep raising costs, hurting businesses, and eliminating jobs by attacking our neighbor and ally.”

“Congress has spoken with bipartisan clarity: it’s time to give Americans relief and end Trump’s tariff tax,” said Leader Schumer. “Both chambers have now rejected his phony ‘emergency’ and his fabricated trade war. The Supreme Court should take notice. This price-spiking tariff tax is raising costs on everything from groceries prices to energy bills — all because Trump chose chaos over common sense. It’s time to deliver relief.”

“The Senate has voted four times, on a bipartisan basis, to overturn Trump’s tariffs and give families some relief from high prices,” said Sen. Wyden. “With today’s vote in the House, it’s clear the tide has turned against the President’s price-hiking trade policies, and Congress should send legislation repealing the tariffs to Trump’s desk as soon as possible.”

Specifically, the legislation would terminate the February 1 emergency declaration that President Trump used to launch his trade war with Canada, and would eliminate the tariffs on Canadian imports implemented as a result. President Trump’s order cited the IEEPA, an unprecedented use of IEEPA’s emergency provisions in the law’s nearly half-century history. The IEEPA tariffs are among the largest tax increases on American families in recent history.

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