House Votes 219–211 to Reverse President Trump’s Tariffs on Canada in Bipartisan Rebuke
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday to pass a resolution aimed at overturning President Donald Trump’s recent imposition of tariffs on Canadian imports. The measure passed by a narrow margin of 219–211, signaling an escalation in the constitutional tug-of-war between Congress and the White House regarding trade authority and economic policy with the nation’s largest trading partner.
The vote was defined by a split in the Republican majority, as a small but decisive group of GOP lawmakers broke ranks to join the Democratic caucus in supporting the resolution. Six Republicans voted in favor of the measure: Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), and Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.). Their support was critical in pushing the legislation past the finish line, reflecting deep concerns in certain districts regarding the economic fallout of a potential trade war with Canada.
Conversely, the Democratic caucus saw a singular defection. Representative Jared Golden (D-Maine) voted against the resolution, aligning with the administration’s protectionist stance. Golden, who represents a district with significant working-class and industrial interests, has frequently emphasized the need to protect domestic markets from foreign competition, diverging from his party’s broader push for free trade stability.
The resolution seeks to nullify the executive action under the Congressional Review Act, a legislative tool that allows Congress to overturn rules issued by federal agencies. Proponents of the resolution argued that the tariffs would inadvertently punish American consumers by driving up costs for essential goods, including energy, lumber, and manufacturing components. Furthermore, the defecting Republicans voiced concerns that the tariffs could damage diplomatic relations with a key ally and harm U.S. exporters who might face retaliatory measures from Ottawa.
Supporters of the President’s policy, however, maintained that the tariffs are a necessary leverage tool to address imbalances in trade agreements and to secure cooperation on border security and immigration issues. Republican leadership urged members to vote “no,” framing the resolution as an attempt to undermine the President’s negotiating power on the world stage.
The passage of the resolution in the House sets up a showdown in the Senate. While the measure has cleared the lower chamber, its path forward remains arduous. Should it pass the Senate, President Trump is expected to veto the legislation. Based on the vote count in the House, supporters of the resolution currently lack the two-thirds supermajority required to override a presidential veto, making the vote largely symbolic of the growing legislative friction over tariff policy.
