Senate passes Kaine’s effort to halt tariffs on Canada, President responds

Senator Tim Kaine succeeded in getting the Senate to approve a resolution to dissolve President Trump's ability to impose tariffs on Canada. But according to the president, the legislation's victory lap will be limited to the Senate.

During his Senate floor remarks, Kaine explained President Trump used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to get the authority to impose tariffs, and it was using that same act that Kaine was able to force the vote on legislation to undo it.

IEEPA grants the president the authority to regulate international commerce during a declared national emergency that stems from an unusual or extraordinary threat. According to Kaine, the act was designed to address adversaries like rogue states, cartels, and dictators. "IEEPA was not designed to be used against allies," he told fellow senators.

Addressing the president's claims that fentanyl is the underlying emergency for the Canadian tariffs, Kaine said "fentanyl is indeed an emergency," and the impact of the drug, including in Virginia, is heartbreaking.

There is a "fair question" to be asked about the roles that China and Mexico play in the U.S.'s fentanyl problem and whether economic action should be taken against them, said Kaine, adding that's why he hasn't challenged tariffs on either of those countries.

"But fentanyl is not a Canadian emergency." With regard to Canada, fentanyl is an "invented emergency."

Kaine's legislation terminates the declaration of national emergency against Canada thereby dissolving the president's foundation to impose tariffs.

"These tariff shenanigans pose us huge economic risk," Kaine told the senators. Using Virginia to illustrate, he said businesses across the state are worried, from pie shops looking at a 25% increase on pie tins from Canada to distillers, wineries, and brewers who say retaliatory tariffs will price them out.

Most worried are the farmers and foresters, top Virginia industries, who were disproportionately hit by the effects of tariffs during the first Trump administration, according to Kaine, and now say they're worried about facing a replay. Under the president's plan, Kaine said potash, an ingredient in fertilizer, will immediately jump 25%.

Another key industry, Virginia's ship and sub manufacturing will take a hit as 35% of the steel used comes from Canada. They are already having a hard time delivering ships and subs on time and on budget, according to Kaine, and if you ratchet up the costs, it will get harder to produce what's needed to defend the nation.

He added Virginia is a top-10 state for tourism with a significant portion of it coming from Canada. Airline reservations from Canada to the U.S. are already down 75%, he said.

"Tariffs are a tax," and this round of tariffs "will be the largest tax hike in the United States history," he claimed.

According to Kaine, he forced the vote so every senator has to go on record to show if their primary interest is standing up for their constituents.

The measure passed 51-48, pushed to success by all the Democratic senators, two independents—Angus King of Maine and Bernie Sanders of Vermont as well as four Republicans — Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, both of Kentucky.

"I will do all I can to urge the House of Representatives to take up this legislation," Kaine said after the Senate vote.

On Truth Social, Trump responded, "The Senate Bill is just a ploy of the Dems to show and expose the weakness of certain Republicans, namely these four, in that it is not going anywhere because the House will never approve it and I, as your President, will never sign it."

In that post, Trump restated that there is a "large amount of fentanyl" coming from Canada. "Why are they allowing Fentanyl to pour into our Country unchecked, and without penalty. What is wrong with them, other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome, commonly known as TDS? Who can want this to happen to our beautiful families, and why?" he asked.