The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved a resolution on Feb. 11 aimed at terminating President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada, marking a rare bipartisan rebuke of the administration’s trade agenda.
The measure passed 219–211, with six Republicans joining nearly all Democrats in support. Reps. Don Bacon, Kevin Kiley, Thomas Massie, Jeff Hurd, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Dan Newhouse all broke with their party. Rep. Jared Golden was the only Democrat to oppose the resolution.
The vote came amid escalating tensions between the White House and Congress over the president’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs on key trading partners. Shortly after the vote, Trump warned on Truth Social that any Republican who opposes his tariff policy would face political consequences in upcoming elections, including primary challenges.
The resolution stems from legislation introduced in March by Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Meeks argued that the tariffs represent a misuse of emergency authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
IEEPA grants the president authority to regulate international commerce during a declared national emergency. Traditionally used to impose sanctions, the statute was invoked by Trump to justify tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, citing concerns related to fentanyl trafficking and unlawful immigration.
House Republicans had previously relied on procedural rules to block votes challenging the tariffs through July 31. However, one day before the resolution passed, Bacon, Kiley, and Massie joined Democrats to defeat a rule that would have prevented such votes from reaching the floor.
Despite the House action, the resolution now faces uncertain prospects in the Senate. Even if it clears that chamber, Trump is widely expected to veto it. Overriding a veto would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers, a threshold that appears unlikely.
Still, the vote represents a symbolic victory for Democrats seeking to spotlight opposition to the administration’s trade strategy.
Efforts to rein in the president’s use of emergency trade authority are not new. In October, four Republican senators Rand Paul, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitch McConnell joined Democrats to pass a resolution aimed at curbing IEEPA’s application.
The broader legal question surrounding the president’s tariff authority remains unresolved. The Supreme Court of the United States is expected to determine whether IEEPA can lawfully serve as the basis for such sweeping trade measures.
Rep. Newhouse, who is not seeking reelection, expressed hope that judicial review would clarify the limits of executive authority. He noted that his Washington district includes numerous Canadian-owned businesses directly affected by the tariffs.
Trade relations between the United States and Canada have deteriorated sharply in recent months. The dispute intensified after Canada reached a trade agreement with China that would allow thousands of Chinese electric vehicles into the Canadian market in exchange for reduced tariffs on canola exports.
Trump responded by threatening a 100 percent tariff on Canadian goods, warning that Canada could not become a conduit for Chinese products entering the U.S. market.
Speaking before the Senate Banking Committee, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration could not allow the northern border to serve as an entry point for Chinese electric vehicles.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, suggested that middle powers must cooperate in a shifting global order. Trump, speaking separately in Davos, countered that Canada should be more appreciative of the United States, asserting that its economy heavily depends on American support.
Recent economic indicators highlight diverging trajectories between the two countries.
Canada’s economy has struggled, with gross domestic product flat in November following a contraction in October, according to Statistics Canada. Preliminary estimates suggest marginal growth in December, while nearly 25,000 jobs were lost in January far below expectations of job gains.
In contrast, the U.S. economy posted robust growth rates of 3.8 percent in the second quarter and 4.4 percent in the third quarter, with projections pointing to continued expansion through the end of 2025.
As the House resolution moves to the Senate, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are preparing for a broader debate this summer, when the United States, Canada, and Mexico will conduct a joint review of the post-NAFTA trade agreement. The outcome may further shape North American trade policy in an increasingly volatile global economic landscape.
