Four Republican set to cast vote against tariffs on Canada

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Senate Republicans are facing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to oppose a Democratic resolution that would nullify the presidential emergency on fentanyl he is using to implement tariffs on Canada.

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Shortly after Trump announces his plan for “reciprocal tariffs” on China, Mexico and Canada, the Senate is expected to vote on a resolution that offers Republicans the opportunity to upset the plan to impose tariffs on Canada.

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This could be construed to be a significant test for Republican loyalty to Trump’s vision of remaking the U.S. economy by backing away from free trade.

Trump has criticized several Republican senators for their support for Canada. He has labeled four GOP senators — Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Rand Paul (Kentucky) as “disloyal” for considering support for a Democrat-led resolution to invalidate the national emergency declaration that serves as the basis for imposing tariffs on Canada.

A former Senate Majority Leader, McConnell’s confirmed intention to break with his party is seen as a significant twist in the tariff drama.

If all Senate Democrats, as well as the four Republicans, vote in favour of the resolution, the simple majority needed to pass it in the Senate would be achieved.

In a social media post just before 1 a.m. Wednesday, Trump singled out the four senators, saying they “will hopefully get on the Republican bandwagon, for a change, and fight the Democrats wild and flagrant push to not penalize Canada for the sale, into our Country, of large amounts of Fentanyl.”

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To justify the tariffs, Trump has argued that Canada is not doing enough to stop illegal drugs from entering the U.S. But American border security seized just 43 pounds of fentanyl coming from Canada during the 2024 fiscal year. And since January, authorities have seized less than 1.5 pounds, according to federal data. Meanwhile, at the southern border, authorities seized over 21,000 pounds last year.

Senator Tim Kaine, the Virginia Democrat who initiated the resolution, said at a news conference on Tuesday that Trump was inventing a “made-up emergency” to support tariffs aimed at helping pay for tax cuts, which he argued would primarily benefit the wealthy.

“How are they going to pay for it? Massive cuts in programs like Medicaid and Medicare, and tariffs imposed on the backs of everyday Americans,” Kaine said.

Democrats have highlighted how the tariffs on Canada could make it more expensive to build homes, disrupt industries like shipbuilding and beer brewing, and raise prices on imported grocery products.

In a speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Collins said she will support the resolution and noted, “The fact is the vast majority of fentanyl in America comes from the southern border.” Collins also pointed out that Canada has already beefed up border security to address drug trafficking.

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Meanwhile, she is concerned what tariffs could do to businesses and households in Maine. She referred to a paper mill in her home state that pumps paper pulp from Canada.

Paul, a co-sponsor of the resolution, criticized the tariffs for negatively impacting industries in Kentucky, such as bourbon and automobile manufacturing.

Other Republican senators such as Chuck Grassley have voiced unease about the economic consequences of the tariffs but remain undecided on whether to oppose Trump.

North Dakota Republican Senator Kevin Cramer said that he has been in constant talks with both Canadian officials and businesses in his state like Bobcat, which does a significant amount of its sales in Canada. But he doesn’t plan on supporting the resolution. Instead, he hopes the Wednesday announcement will be a starting point for negotiations.

Republican leader Senator John Thune is urging his colleagues to reject the resolution. He argues that overturning Trump’s emergency declaration could weaken his negotiating position and set a precedent for challenging executive authority.

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While Kaine’s resolution may pass in the Senate, there is a significant legislative hump to overcome. It must also be passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which is highly unlikely. Still, it could be seen as a significant reproach of Trump’s trade policies and spotlight GOP divisions over America-first protectionism.

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