The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a resolution condemning President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian products, marking a significant setback for the administration’s trade dispute with its northern neighbor. The resolution, which sought to terminate the national emergency declared by Trump in February 2025 to impose tariffs on various Canadian imports, passed with a 219-211 vote. Notably, six Republican members broke ranks with the White House to support the measure.
The emergency declaration by Trump, alleging that Canada’s failure to address cross-border fentanyl trafficking posed a threat to U.S. national security, serves as the basis for the 35% tariffs currently levied on a range of Canadian goods excluded from the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). While Congress holds the authority to review such emergency declarations, Trump can veto the resolution even if it garners a simple majority in the Senate. Despite this possibility, the House’s rejection of the tariffs is seen as a symbolic blow to the president, who has prioritized tariffs as a key economic policy during his second term.
During the vote, Trump took to social media to criticize the Republican lawmakers who supported the resolution, warning of repercussions for those opposing tariffs. The dissenting Republicans, including Don Bacon, Brian Fitzpatrick, Jeff Hurd, Kevin Kiley, Thomas Massie, and Dan Newhouse, cited concerns over the adverse impact of tariffs on their constituents and state economies. Newhouse, in particular, highlighted the detrimental effects of tariffs on Washingtonians and emphasized the need to address trade challenges without harming local economies.
The debate in the House coincided with the release of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office’s economic outlook report, projecting that U.S. businesses would absorb a significant portion of increased import costs due to tariffs. Despite efforts by Republican leadership to block the resolution, the vote proceeded after three Republicans broke ranks with their party to allow the House to address the issue. Bacon, one of the dissenting Republicans, emphasized the negative economic implications of tariffs, labeling them as a substantial tax burden on American consumers, manufacturers, and farmers.
While similar attempts to pass anti-tariff resolutions succeeded in the Senate last year, the Republican leadership in the House had previously halted such efforts. The fate of tariffs imposed under national emergencies now rests on a pending Supreme Court decision, following hearings in November. The court is expected to release its ruling as early as February 20, potentially reshaping the future of U.S. trade policy and relations with Canada.