House Votes To End Trump’s Canada Tariffs As GOP Lawmakers Break Ranks

In a move that underscores ongoing divisions within the Republican conference, the GOP-controlled House voted Wednesday night to end tariffs imposed by President Donald J. Trump on Canadian imports, with six Republicans breaking ranks to side with Democrats in what amounts to a largely symbolic challenge to the administration’s America First trade agenda.

The resolution passed 219–211, with nearly all Democrats voting in favor. According to NBC News, only one Democrat — Rep. Jared Golden of Maine — opposed the measure. The joint resolution was spearheaded by Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York and now heads to the Senate.

Even if the upper chamber were to approve the measure, it faces near-certain rejection from President Trump, who has made clear he is prepared to defend his trade policies. Shortly before the House vote, the president issued a pointed warning to members of his own party considering defection.

“Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!” Trump wrote on Truth Social around the time of the House vote.

The six Republicans who joined Democrats were Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Kevin Kiley of California, Don Bacon of Nebraska, Dan Newhouse of Washington, Jeff Hurd of Colorado, and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.

For some, the political fallout may be limited. Reps. Bacon and Newhouse are not seeking reelection, and President Trump has already endorsed a primary challenger to Rep. Massie, signaling that intra-party tensions over trade policy are unlikely to subside quietly.

Rep. Hurd defended his vote publicly, framing it as a constitutional matter rather than a rebuke of the president.

“If we normalize broad emergency trade powers today, we should expect that a future president, of either party, will rely on the same authority in ways many of us would strongly oppose,” Hurd wrote.

“My responsibility is to defend the separation of powers regardless of political convenience,” he added.

President Trump originally imposed the tariffs on Canadian goods last year under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, citing economic and national security concerns. Since then, he has used tariff policy as leverage in broader geopolitical negotiations, including warning of further action if Canada advances closer trade ties with China.

Most recently, the president threatened to impose a 100 percent tariff on Canadian imports should Ottawa proceed with a trade agreement with Beijing — a move consistent with his administration’s broader strategy of confronting China’s economic influence and protecting American industry.

Tariffs have become a defining element of President Trump’s second term, with the White House arguing that strategic trade measures are essential to rebuilding domestic manufacturing, securing supply chains, and defending U.S. sovereignty in an increasingly hostile global economy.

House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged disappointment over the vote but emphasized that it would have no practical impact on policy.

“The president has veto power, and there’s not a two thirds majority in both chambers to override the veto, so it’s not going to change the policy in the end anyway,” Johnson told reporters.

“I think this is a fruitless exercise and a pointless one,” he added.

The procedural path to Wednesday’s vote was opened after a House rule barring the chamber from canceling the president’s tariffs expired at the end of January. Republicans had attempted Tuesday evening to extend that restriction through late July, but the effort fell short.

Reps. Massie, Kiley, and Bacon voted against extending the prohibition, clearing the way for a direct challenge to the administration’s tariff authority.

Rep. Bacon later elaborated on his reasoning, pointing to Congress’s constitutional role.

“Congress needs to be able to debate on tariffs,” Bacon wrote.

“Article I of the Constitution places authority over taxes and tariffs with Congress for a reason, but for too long, we have handed that authority to the executive branch,” he added.

Still, with President Trump firmly committed to his trade strategy — and the constitutional reality of the veto power looming — Wednesday’s vote appears unlikely to alter the administration’s America First economic posture. Instead, it highlights an ongoing debate within the Republican Party over how best to balance executive authority, congressional prerogatives, and the long-term defense of American workers and industries in a competitive global marketplace.