The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday narrowly backed a measure disapproving of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada, a rare rebuke of the president and leaders of his party in the Republican-majority House. Lawmakers voted 219 to 211 in favour of a resolution to terminate Trump’s use of a national emergency to put punitive trade measures on Canadian goods, as six Republicans joined all but one Democrat in favour.
It was an important symbolic vote in the chamber, where Trump’s Republicans hold a slim 218-214 majority. The resolution stands a good chance of passage in the Senate, which has voted twice to block Trump from imposing tariffs on Canada despite the Republicans holding more seats. However, it is unlikely to become law, as it would take two-thirds majorities in both chambers to overcome an expected Trump veto. Most Republicans have been unwilling to oppose Trump’s policies. The House approved the resolution a day after three Republicans joined Democrats to narrowly defeat an effort by Republican leaders to block legislative challenges to Trump’s tariffs. Members of Congress have been expressing frustration over rising costs for U.S. consumers as well as the impact of the tariffs on businesses involved in international trade.
