{"id":7858,"date":"2025-04-01T12:05:53","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T12:05:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/capitol-agenda-gop-senators-vs-trump-on-tariffs\/"},"modified":"2025-04-01T12:05:53","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T12:05:53","slug":"capitol-agenda-gop-senators-vs-trump-on-tariffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/capitol-agenda-gop-senators-vs-trump-on-tariffs\/","title":{"rendered":"Capitol agenda: GOP senators vs. Trump on tariffs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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GOP senators could deliver a stinging rebuke of Donald Trump Tuesday, with several indicating they plan to join Democrats in opposing the president\u2019s plan to hike tariffs on Canada.<\/p>\n

Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Thom Tillis signaled Monday<\/a> they intend to back Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine\u2019s resolution that would block Trump\u2019s 25 percent across-the-board tariffs on the nation\u2019s northern neighbor and leading trade partner. The resolution would terminate the national emergency Trump declared last month over fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration to justify the tariffs.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ll join GOP Sen. Rand Paul, a cosponsor of Kaine\u2019s resolution and a strong opponent of tariffs. Sen. Chuck Grassley \u2014 one of many farm-state Republicans who has raised particular concerns about the Canadian tariffs \u2014 said Monday he hadn\u2019t decided whether to oppose the president.<\/p>\n

Collins is worried about potential disruptions to key economic drivers in her home state of Maine, whose economy is closely integrated with Canada\u2019s \u2014 for instance: lobstering, pulp and paper, potatoes and blueberries.<\/p>\n

\u201cImposing tariffs on Canada, which is our closest neighbor, [a] friendly ally, is a huge mistake and will cause disruption in the economies of both countries,\u201d said Collins, pointing to the Canadian flag pin she was wearing on her lapel alongside one of the American flag.<\/p>\n

Four Republicans would need to join all 47 Senate Democrats in backing Kaine\u2019s resolution for it to win approval, and it\u2019s still unclear if supporters will hit that number. If they do, it would be the GOP Congress\u2019s biggest break with Trump since he took office in January \u2014 and it would serve as a warning shot as his economic policies roil markets and threaten core industries across the country.<\/p>\n

Still, the resolution has no teeth \u2014 it is ultimately a political statement. Any show of opposition in the Senate is likely to die in the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson has already moved to block the ability of tariff critics to force a floor vote<\/a> on ending the types of national emergencies Trump is leaning on to levy his tariffs.<\/p>\n

What else we’re watching <\/b><\/p>\n