By Joy Malbon
October 30, 2025
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One shortly after taking off from Busan, South Korea, en route to Joint Base Andrews, Md., Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
If you thought U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada was suddenly over after last night’s Senate vote to knock down his tariffs, well think again.
In a rare bipartisan vote, the Senate indeed voted to block Trump’s tariffs on Canada, passing a resolution to end the national emergency declaration that allowed the president to impose duties on Canadian goods.
But – and there is always a but – the vote is largely symbolic because it’s unlikely to become law.
If you thought U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada was suddenly over after last night’s Senate vote to knock down his tariffs, well think again.
In a rare bipartisan vote, the Senate indeed voted to block Trump’s tariffs on Canada, passing a resolution to end the national emergency declaration that allowed the president to impose duties on Canadian goods.
But – and there is always a but – the vote is largely symbolic because it’s unlikely to become law.
A pre-emptive block
The Republican-controlled House, under Speaker Mike Johnson, passed a new rule that bars any measures that challenge Donald Trump’s tariff policies. That effectively means that Senate vote won’t see the light of day.
However, the vote does show some cracks and concerns among a handful of Republicans and Democrats about the economic punishment tariffs have put on consumers – and let’s not forget the strain it has placed on U.S. Canada relations.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., departs a news conference on the 30th day of the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Republicans cross the floor
Four Republican senators sided with the Democrats.
Among them are Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, both concerned about rising costs in manufacturing. They’re also hurting over Canada’s booze ban on bourbon, a big export to Canada.
The other two: Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine spoke about how the two countries economies are intertwined, and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski says Canada is their most accessible neighbor and vital source of goods.
It’s not the first time they’ve sided with their colleagues on the other side of the aisle. In April, the Senate passed a similar resolution on Canadian imports.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., arrives on the Senate subway on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
What’s next?
While analysts say this second vote to nullify Trump’s tariffs is notable, it does not change Trump’s tariff policy.
But a large part of it will face a legal test next week, when the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on whether Trump’s use of a national security statute – the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, or IEEPA – is legal.
Trump’s tariffs to face legal test before U.S. Supreme Court next week
The hearing combines two cases, pushing back on Trump’s so-called “reciprocal” tariffs imposed on countries around the world, and his fentanyl-related levies on Canada, Mexico and China.
The Conservative-majority court is not expected to release a ruling for months or longer.
With files from the Associated Press
Joy Malbon
CTV National News Washington Bureau Chief
Four Republicans back Senate resolution to undo Trump’s tariffs around the globe
October 30, 2025
Soybeans grow in a farm field, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Willow Grove, Del.
(AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
WASHINGTON — The Senate passed a resolution Thursday that would undo many of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs around the globe, the latest note of displeasure at his trade tactics in Washington that came just as the president celebrated his negotiations with China as a success.
After a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea, Trump said he would cut tariffs on the Asian economic giant and China would in turn purchase 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually for the next three years. The Republican president claimed his trade negotiation would secure “prosperity and security to millions of Americans.”
But back in Washington, senators — several from Trump’s Republican Party — have demonstrated their dissent with Trump’s tariff tactics by passing a series of resolutions this week that would nullify the national emergencies that Trump has declared to justify the import taxes. Already this week, the Senate approved resolutions to end tariffs imposed on Brazil and Canada. While the legislative efforts are ultimately doomed, they exposed fault lines in the GOP.
The latest resolution, which would effectively end most of Trump’s tariff policies, passed on a 51-47 vote, with four Republicans joining with all Democrats.
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who backed Democrats on the resolutions, credited Trump for decreasing the tariffs on China, but said the result is “still much higher than we’ve had.”
“It still will lead to increased prices,” he said.
The votes were orchestrated by Democrats using a decades-old law that allows U.S. Congress to nullify a presidential emergency. But House Republicans have instituted a new law that allows the leadership to prevent such resolutions from coming up for a vote. Plus, Trump would surely veto legislation that inhibits his power over trade policy, meaning the legislation won’t ultimately take effect.
Democrats can force a vote but not a result
But Democrats have still been able to force the Senate to take up an uncomfortable topic for their Republican colleagues.
“American families are being squeezed by prices going up and up and up,” said U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, in a floor speech. He added that “in many ways, red states in rural areas are being hit the hardest,” and pointed to economic strain being put on farmers and manufacturers.
Overall there has been little movement among Republicans to oppose Trump’s import taxes publicly. A nearly identical resolution failed in April on a tied vote after Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was absent. On Thursday, McConnell and Paul, as well as U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, voted along with all Democrats to pass the resolution.
Those four Republicans helped advance similar resolutions this week to end the tariffs on Brazil and Canada. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, also voted in favor of the resolution applying to Brazil, but otherwise, GOP senators have held the line this week behind the president.
“I agree with my colleagues that tariffs should be more targeted to avoid harm to Americans,” said U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, in a floor speech. Yet he added that Trump’s negotiations “are bearing fruit” and praised his announcement that Beijing would allow the export of rare earth elements and start buying American soybeans again.
Republicans representing farm states were especially enthused by the announcement that China would be purchasing 25 million metric tons of soybeans annually, starting with 10 million metric tons for the rest of this year.
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, said the deal with China “absolutely” justifies Trump’s use of tariff threats to negotiate trade policy with other nations. He called the announcement “huge news” for Kansas farmers, but also acknowledged that they would still probably need financial help as they deal with the strain of losing their biggest customer for soybeans and sorghum.
“It’s not like you can snap your finger and send over $15 billion worth of sorghum and soybeans together overnight,” he said.
China had been the largest purchaser of U.S. soybeans until this year. It purchased almost 27 million metric tons in 2024, so Trump’s negotiated deal only guarantees to return soybean exports to China to less than their previous level.
Democrats said that Americans shouldn’t be fooled by Trump’s announcement.
“Donald Trump has folded, leaving American families and farmers and small businesses to deal with the wreckage from his blunders, from his erratic on again off again tariff policies,” said U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
Stephen Groves, The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Senate passed a resolution Thursday that would undo many of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs around the globe, the latest note of displeasure at his trade tactics in Washington that came just as the president celebrated his negotiations with China as a success.
After a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea, Trump said he would cut tariffs on the Asian economic giant and China would in turn purchase 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually for the next three years. The Republican president claimed his trade negotiation would secure “prosperity and security to millions of Americans.”
But back in Washington, senators — several from Trump’s Republican Party — have demonstrated their dissent with Trump’s tariff tactics by passing a series of resolutions this week that would nullify the national emergencies that Trump has declared to justify the import taxes. Already this week, the Senate approved resolutions to end tariffs imposed on Brazil and Canada. While the legislative efforts are ultimately doomed, they exposed fault lines in the GOP.
The latest resolution, which would effectively end most of Trump’s tariff policies, passed on a 51-47 vote, with four Republicans joining with all Democrats.
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who backed Democrats on the resolutions, credited Trump for decreasing the tariffs on China, but said the result is “still much higher than we’ve had.”
“It still will lead to increased prices,” he said.
The votes were orchestrated by Democrats using a decades-old law that allows U.S. Congress to nullify a presidential emergency. But House Republicans have instituted a new law that allows the leadership to prevent such resolutions from coming up for a vote. Plus, Trump would surely veto legislation that inhibits his power over trade policy, meaning the legislation won’t ultimately take effect.
Democrats can force a vote but not a result
But Democrats have still been able to force the Senate to take up an uncomfortable topic for their Republican colleagues.
“American families are being squeezed by prices going up and up and up,” said U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, in a floor speech. He added that “in many ways, red states in rural areas are being hit the hardest,” and pointed to economic strain being put on farmers and manufacturers.
Overall there has been little movement among Republicans to oppose Trump’s import taxes publicly. A nearly identical resolution failed in April on a tied vote after Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was absent. On Thursday, McConnell and Paul, as well as U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, voted along with all Democrats to pass the resolution.
Those four Republicans helped advance similar resolutions this week to end the tariffs on Brazil and Canada. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, also voted in favor of the resolution applying to Brazil, but otherwise, GOP senators have held the line this week behind the president.
“I agree with my colleagues that tariffs should be more targeted to avoid harm to Americans,” said U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, in a floor speech. Yet he added that Trump’s negotiations “are bearing fruit” and praised his announcement that Beijing would allow the export of rare earth elements and start buying American soybeans again.
Republicans representing farm states were especially enthused by the announcement that China would be purchasing 25 million metric tons of soybeans annually, starting with 10 million metric tons for the rest of this year.
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, said the deal with China “absolutely” justifies Trump’s use of tariff threats to negotiate trade policy with other nations. He called the announcement “huge news” for Kansas farmers, but also acknowledged that they would still probably need financial help as they deal with the strain of losing their biggest customer for soybeans and sorghum.
“It’s not like you can snap your finger and send over $15 billion worth of sorghum and soybeans together overnight,” he said.
China had been the largest purchaser of U.S. soybeans until this year. It purchased almost 27 million metric tons in 2024, so Trump’s negotiated deal only guarantees to return soybean exports to China to less than their previous level.
Democrats said that Americans shouldn’t be fooled by Trump’s announcement.
“Donald Trump has folded, leaving American families and farmers and small businesses to deal with the wreckage from his blunders, from his erratic on again off again tariff policies,” said U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
Stephen Groves, The Associated Press
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