The House of Representatives in the United States has voted to cancel the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Canadian goods, in a move with a strong political charge, but with little chance of producing immediate effects, the BBC reports.
US House of Representatives/PHOTO: EPA/EFE
By a vote of 219 to 211, six Republican congressmen joined Democrats in supporting a resolution calling for the revocation of tariffs imposed by Trump last year against Canada. But the gesture is largely symbolic: the bill must also pass the US Senate, where Republicans hold the majority, and then reach the president's desk — unlikely to enact it.
Since his re-election, Donald Trump has relaunched the trade offensive against traditional US partners. Canada is once again in the crosshairs, with the White House leader recently threatening a 100% import tax in response to a possible trade deal between Ottawa and Beijing.
Even as the vote was taking place in the plenary, Trump issued a warning on his network, Truth Social: “Any Republican, House or Senate, who votes against TARIFFS will suffer serious consequences in the next election.” He added that “TARIFFS have given us economic and national security, and no Republican should be responsible for destroying that privilege.”
Before the vote, House Speaker Republican Mike Johnson — a close Trump ally — tried unsuccessfully to block debate on the tariffs. With a fragile majority in the House, the Republicans did not allow themselves too many betrayals: the six “rebellious” votes, together with an almost united front of the Democrats, were enough to pass the resolution.
“Our fight does not stop here”
The legislative initiative belongs to Democrat Gregory Meeks, who accused Trump of “turning tariffs into a weapon” against allies and destabilizing the global economy. “Not only have these tariffs severely damaged our relationship with Canada, pushing it closer to China, but it has also raised prices here at home.” Meeks said before the vote.
Among the Republicans who voted with the opposition was Don Bacon, representative of the state of Nebraska. He said the tariffs have been “overall negative” for the economy and are essentially an additional tax paid by American consumers, manufacturers and farmers.
The bill now goes to the Senate, where the Republican majority could block it. Even in the unlikely event that it passes this stage, its enactment by Trump remains unlikely.
In parallel, the president's tariff policy is being challenged in court. The US Supreme Court is set to rule on a case that questions the president's legal authority to impose such taxes.
Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced that this is just the first in a series of initiatives aimed at undoing Trump's flagship trade measures. “Our fight does not stop here,” he said in a video message released before the vote. “I will also introduce resolutions to end the tariffs imposed on Mexico, Brazil and the so-called global tariffs in >.”
