Kaine, Paul, Klobuchar, Warner, & Schumer Announce Upcoming Vote on Bipartisan Legislation to Challenge Trump’s Tariffs on Canada
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rand Paul (R-KY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Mark R. Warner (D-VA), as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), announced that the Senate will vote this evening on their legislation to undo President Donald Trump’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs on Canada. The legislation passed the Senate in a 51-48 vote in April but has not been taken up by the House of Representatives. The legislation needs a simple majority of votes in the Senate to pass.
The vote comes shortly after newly released inflation data showed that consumer prices rose in September at their fastest pace in eight months. Since Trump launched his trade war with Canada, exports of U.S. distilled spirits declined by about 85 percent, and tourism from Canada to the U.S. fell by 33.9 percent.
“Our relationship with Canada—one of our closest allies and top trading partners—is critical to our economy. The American people overwhelmingly oppose Trump’s chaotic trade war with our northern neighbor that is leading to steep declines in Canadian tourism to the U.S. and declining sales of American products in Canada,” said Kaine. “It is our responsibility in Congress to step in when the President abuses their authority, especially when that abuse of power is bad for our economy. If the Senate once again passes a resolution to terminate this misguided trade war, the House should join us and say enough is enough.”
“No president should be able to abuse emergency powers to bypass Congress and unilaterally impose import tariffs—taxes—on the American people,” said Paul. “These tariffs hit families, farmers, and small businesses the hardest, and in Kentucky they devastate cornerstone industries like car manufacturing, bourbon, homebuilding, and shipping. Congress must reclaim its constitutional authority and stop this economic overreach before more jobs and industries are destroyed.”
“The president cannot abuse his power to continue an unjustified trade war with one of our strongest allies. Canada is Minnesota’s top trading partner, but the President’s tariffs are jeopardizing that relationship—and adding costs for Minnesota families,” said Klobuchar. “We should not raise costs, hurt businesses, and eliminate jobs by attacking our neighbor and ally.”
“President Trump’s senseless tariffs on Canada have increased costs for families and businesses across Virginia and the country,” said Warner. “I urge my colleagues to vote with me to end Trump’s reckless trade policy that is hurting American consumers, straining small businesses, devastating tourism, and damaging the United States’ relationship with one of our closest allies.”
“American families and small businesses cannot afford Trump’s price-spiking tariff tantrums. Trump’s nonsensical trade war with Canada means that Americans will continue to pay an average of $1,300 more a year due to higher prices on everything from fertilizer to beef,” said Leader Schumer. “Congress must step in to salvage our important trade relationship with Canada. We cannot cede these important economic decisions solely to an erratic executive affected by the whims of a TV commercial. It’s beyond time to stop this chaos.”
Specifically, the legislation would terminate the February 1 emergency declaration that President Trump used to launch his trade war with Canada, and would eliminate the tariffs on Canadian imports implemented as a result. President Trump’s order cited the IEEPA, an unprecedented use of IEEPA’s emergency provisions in the law’s nearly half-century history. The IEEPA tariffs are the largest tax increase on American families in recent history. Public opinion surveys have overwhelmingly demonstrated that the American people do not support Trump’s trade wars. According to a recent survey by Public First, 43 percent of American adults opposed applying tariffs to Canada. An Economist/YouGov survey found a majority of U.S. adults, 52 percent, were opposed to Trump’s Canada tariffs.
In 2024, Canada was Virginia’s largest export market, accounting for 15 percent of Virginia’s exports. In 2022, top goods exports from Virginia 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.
The legislation is supported by the AFL-CIO, United Steelworkers (USW), North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), Conference of Mayors, Public Citizen, National Association of Women Owned Businesses (NAWBO), Mainstreet Alliance, Small Business Majority, National Taxpayers Union, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Apparel & Footwear Association, National Retail Federation, The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA), Consumer Technology Association, Foreign Policy for America, and American Craft Spirits Association.
In addition to Kaine, Paul, Klobuchar, Warner, and Schumer, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Peter Welch (D-VT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Full text of the legislation is available here.
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