Republican Rep. Don Bacon Signals Support for Bill to Block Tariffs on Canada
WASHINGTON — Representative Don Bacon (R-Neb.) has indicated he is prepared to break with the White House and vote in favor of legislation that would terminate the sweeping tariffs currently imposed on Canadian imports. The Nebraska lawmaker’s comments come as opposition to the administration’s trade policies continues to mount within the Republican party, particularly regarding measures targeting close U.S. allies.
“We have a trade agreement with them, and I don’t like how the White House has treated our neighbor and ally,” Bacon said, referring to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). His statement signals a potential shift in the House of Representatives, where a growing number of Republicans are expressing unease over the economic and diplomatic fallout of the ongoing trade dispute.
The controversy stems from President Donald Trump’s decision earlier this year to declare a national emergency, utilizing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose a 25 percent tariff on nearly all goods entering the United States from Canada. The administration has justified the levies as a necessary tool to compel Ottawa to take more aggressive action against the flow of fentanyl and illegal migration across the northern border. However, critics argue that the broad application of tariffs on a compliant trading partner undermines the USMCA and penalizes American industries that rely on cross-border supply chains.
Bacon’s anticipated vote would likely support a joint resolution—similar to measures recently debated in the Senate—aimed at terminating the specific national emergency declaration that authorizes the tariffs. Under the National Emergencies Act, Congress has the power to check executive authority by voting to end such declarations.
“Canada has been in compliance with the USMCA trade deal,” Bacon noted in recent remarks, distinguishing the northern neighbor from other trading partners where disputes have been more contentious. “I have not been supportive of tariffs against Canada.”
The Congressman’s position reflects the concerns of his constituency in Nebraska, an agricultural hub heavily dependent on export markets. Retaliatory measures from trading partners often target U.S. agricultural products, placing significant financial strain on farmers and producers in the Midwest. Bacon has previously voiced apprehension that engaging in a trade war with a stable ally like Canada is strategically counterproductive, potentially driving a wedge between the two nations at a time when North American unity is crucial for economic competition with other global powers.
Bacon is not the only Republican to voice skepticism. In the Senate, a bipartisan coalition recently passed a similar resolution, with several Republicans joining Democrats to rebuke the administration’s use of emergency powers for trade policy. If Bacon and a sufficient number of his House GOP colleagues join the effort, the resolution could pass the lower chamber, setting up a direct confrontation with the White House.
While the President has threatened to veto any legislation that restricts his ability to leverage tariffs, a successful vote in the House would send a stark signal of disapproval from the legislative branch. It would mark one of the most significant congressional challenges to the administration’s trade agenda since the tariffs were implemented.
As the House prepares to take up the measure, all eyes are on moderate Republicans and those representing agriculture-heavy districts. Bacon’s public declaration provides political cover for others in his party who may be weighing the risks of defying the President against the economic interests of their districts. The coming vote will test the extent of congressional patience with the administration’s aggressive trade tactics and determine whether the legislative branch can effectively reclaim its constitutional authority over commerce and tariffs.
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* globalnews.ca
* senate.gov
