Kaine, Klobuchar & Warner Formally File Legislation to Undo President Trump’s Senseless Taxes on Canadian Goods

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) formally filed legislation to undo President Donald Trump’s wildly unpopular tariffs on Canadian goods, which amount to a 25 percent tax on goods imported from one of America’s top trading partners and closest allies. The legislation is privileged, which means the U.S. Senate will be required to vote on the bill in the coming weeks.

“Since we announced our intention to file legislation to challenge President Trump’s senseless taxes on Canadian goods, I have received an outpouring of support from constituents who are outraged by this Administration playing fast and loose with our economy,” said Kaine. “Virginians and Americans across the country have been loud and clear: they want lower prices, not higher ones. They want economic growth, not a recession—which even Trump admits could result from his misguided economic policies. I look forward to this legislation coming to the floor for a vote so every Senator can publicly answer this question: are you willing to put your constituents and our economy above Trump’s worst impulses?”

“This Administration is igniting a reckless trade war and regular Americans are paying the price,” said Klobuchar. “Costs for everyone will go up and our farmers and businesses will suffer. Canada is Minnesota’s top trading partner and is a key U.S. ally. We must reverse these damaging tariffs before it’s too late.”

“President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods will hurt Virginians and hurt the American people. When he ran for office, he promised the American people lower costs. This baseless trade war with one of our closest allies has the exact opposite impact, raising prices on everything from groceries to houses and cars,” said Warner. “It’s time for Congress to step in.”

In Virginia in 2024, Canada was the largest export market and accounted for 15 percent of Virginia exports. In Virginia in 2022, top goods exports to Canada included motor vehicles and transportation equipment, such as medium- and heavy-duty trucks. 56.1 percent of Southwest Virginia’s economic output is dependent on trade.

Polls have overwhelmingly demonstrated that the American people do not support Trump’s trade wars. According to a recent survey by Public First, just 28 percent of American adults supported specifically applying tariffs to Canada, while 43 percent opposed.

Specifically, the senators’ legislation would work by terminating the February 1 emergency that Trump used to launch his trade war with Canada, and thus eliminate the tariffs on Canadian imports implemented as a result. Trump’s order cites the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), an unprecedented use of IEEPA in its nearly half century history. After an initial one-month delay, President Trump decided to move forward with the tariffs, with the import taxes starting to be collected on March 4, 2025. In total, President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs will cost the average American household up to $2,000 a year, with the Canada tariffs making up a significant portion of that. These IEEPA tariffs represent the largest tax increase on American families in recent history.

Data regarding goods traded with Canada, by state, in 2023 is available here and below:

The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angus King (I-ME), and Chris Coons (D-DE).

Full text of the legislation is available here.

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