On Wednesday evening, shortly after President Trump announced the introduction of tariffs related to imports from numerous foreign countries, the Senate passed a resolution that effectively nullifies the emergency declaration used by the MAGA leader to justify new tariffs against Canada, particularly those related to fentanyl trafficking.
The resolution passed with 51 votes in favor and 48 against. Four Republican senators joined their Democratic rivals, thus opposing the president’s agenda–a decidedly rare occurrence these days. The Senate legislation has virtually no chance of being passed by the Republican-controlled House, however, the vote reflects growing bipartisan concerns about the economic impact of tariffs, which at the same time risk disrupting relations between the United States and the rest of the world.
“Trade wars with our partners hurt working people most”, said Senator Mitch McConnell, one of the four Republicans, with Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Rand Paul, who voted for the resolution.
To justify the tariffs, Trump claimed that Canada is not doing enough to prevent illegal drugs from entering the U.S. Yet, the data does not add up. Customs and Border Protection seized 43 pounds of fentanyl along the northern border during fiscal year 2024: by January 2025, however, U.S. authorities were able to find “only” 1.5 pounds.
“This is not about fentanyl. It’s about tariffs. It’s about a national sales tax on American families,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, the Virginia Democrat who initiated the resolution. Dems have argued that Trump is using tariffs to pay for proposed tax cuts that would benefit the wealthiest, but will also make it more expensive to build homes, buy cars and pay for imported food.
“Today, Donald Trump takes a sledgehammer to the American economy and even to the American dream,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. In the wake of election results in Wisconsin and Florida, which gave Republicans early warning signs about the popularity of Trump’s agenda, Schumer said the president is particularly vulnerable when it comes to the economy.
For their part, Republican leaders have tried to keep their party colleagues at bay, stressing that the MAGA leader’s intent is to combat substance trafficking and preserve border security, a rationale that clearly didn’t quite convince everyone.
“The fact is the vast majority of fentanyl in America comes from the southern border,” said Senator Collins, who also explained how Canada has long been working to strengthen security along the border territories.
