WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Donald Trump’s anticipated “Liberation Day” for tariff implementation nears, Senate Democrats are testing Republican backing for some of these initiatives by pushing for a vote to revoke the emergency declaration supporting the tariffs on Canada.
Republicans are feeling some discomfort as Trump’s efforts to reshape global trade have resulted in stock market declines, yet they continue to support his intermittent threats to impose taxes on imported goods.
While the resolution introduced by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia provides a possible exit strategy regarding the tariffs on Canadian imports, Republican leaders are working to maintain party unity by emphasizing the issue of fentanyl trafficking through the northern border. This situation illustrates how Trump is not just altering global economic landscapes but also challenging his party’s longstanding endorsement of free trade principles.
“I genuinely welcome the opportunity for my Republican colleagues to not only express their concerns but to take concrete actions to eliminate these tariffs,” Kaine stated in an interview with The Associated Press last week.
Kaine’s resolution aims to terminate the emergency declaration that Trump enacted in February to impose tariffs on Canada as a reaction to their perceived inadequate measures against the influx of illegal drugs into the U.S. If the Senate passes this resolution, it will still need to be addressed by the Republican-dominated House.
A small portion of the fentanyl entering the U.S. comes from Canada. According to federal data, Customs and Border Protection seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the northern border during the 2024 fiscal year, with less than 1.5 pounds seized since January. In contrast, over 21,000 pounds were seized at the southern border last year.
Kaine cautioned that tariffs on Canadian goods would have a cascading effect on the economy, increasing costs for home construction and military ships.
“We’re going to see higher prices for our food items. Building supplies are going to cost more,” he noted. “People are already expressing concerns about food and housing prices. Increasing the costs for these goods is significant.”
Nonetheless, Trump maintains that the flow of fentanyl from Canada is “massive” and has promised to proceed with imposing tariffs on Wednesday.
“No other country has seen a transformation quite like what is happening in the United States of America,” the president stated on social media Monday.
Senate Republican leaders have indicated that they are not particularly in favor of tariffs, yet contend that Trump is leveraging them as a negotiation strategy.
“I support the use of tariffs to achieve specific goals, such as curbing drug trafficking,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters last month, reiterating this week that his “guidance remains unchanged.”
While Trump’s close Senate allies firmly support his tariff-driven vision for revamping the U.S. economy, others are openly expressing their concerns over trade conflicts that may disrupt industries and increase prices on automobiles, groceries, and housing.
“I’m closely monitoring these tariffs because often the first individuals impacted in a trade war are farmers and ranchers,” remarked Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana.
Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, expressed a preference for the U.S. and its trading partners to eliminate all tariffs but acknowledged that Trump’s tariff threats have created uncertainty in global markets.
“We’re navigating uncharted waters,” Kennedy told reporters. “No one can predict the ramifications of these tariffs.”
