WASHINGTON  – Today, the U.S. Senate voted 50-46 to pass bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), to challenge President Donald Trump’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEPPA) tariffs on Canada. The vote came shortly after newly released inflation data showed that consumer prices rose in September at their fastest pace in eight months.

“President Trump’s tariffs are driving up prices for families, raising costs for small businesses, and creating completely unnecessary uncertainty for our economy,” said Sen. Warner. “Today’s bipartisan vote sends a clear message: Congress must act to end Trump’s reckless trade war and protect American jobs and consumers.”

“In order to strengthen our weakening economy, we need stability and strong relationships around the world—not chaotic trade wars that raise prices, shut American businesses out of foreign markets, and decrease tourism to the U.S.,” said Sen. Kaine. “I’m glad a bipartisan majority in the Senate once again reaffirmed that principle and the value of America’s long-standing friendship with Canada tonight. Now it’s time for the House to stop playing procedural tricks to hide from its constitutional responsibility to stop President Trump from abusing his authority to unilaterally impose new taxes on the American people.”

“Tonight, the Senate came together and 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.”

“The Senate today sent a powerful message on the importance of our trade relationship with Canada. American families and small businesses cannot afford Trump’s price-spiking tariff tantrums,” said Leader Schumer. “Senate Democrats will continue to pursue every avenue to end Trump’s trade war. I urge the House not to cede Congress’ authority over these important economic decisions to an erratic executive affected by the whims of a TV commercial and pass this legislation. It’s beyond time to stop this chaos."

The National Emergencies Act states that the U.S. House of Representatives must vote on this legislation within 18 days.

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. Public opinion surveys have overwhelmingly demonstrated that the American people do not support Trump’s trade wars. According to a recent survey by Public First, 43 percent of American adults opposed applying tariffs to Canada. An Economist/YouGov survey found a majority of U.S. adults, 52 percent, were opposed to Trump’s Canada tariffs.

In 2024, Canada was Virginia’s largest export market, accounting for 15 percent of Virginia’s exports. In 2022, top goods exports from Virginia to Canada included motor vehicles and transportation equipment, such as medium- and heavy-duty trucks. 56.1 percent of Southwest Virginia’s economic output is dependent on trade.

The legislation is supported by the AFL-CIO, United Steelworkers (USW), North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), Conference of Mayors, Public Citizen, National Association of Women Owned Businesses (NAWBO), Mainstreet Alliance, Small Business Majority, National Taxpayers Union, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Apparel & Footwear Association, National Retail Federation, The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA), Consumer Technology Association, We Pay the Tariffs, Foreign Policy for America, and American Craft Spirits Association.

In addition to Sens. Warner, Kaine, Paul, Klobuchar, and Schumer, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Peter Welch (D-VT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Jack Reed (D-RI).

Full text of the legislation is available here.