An American flag flies near shipping containers at the Port of Los Angeles on September 26.
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The Republican-led Senate issued a rare bipartisan rebuke of President Trump on Tuesday, voting to end the emergency powers he used to impose tariffs on Brazil, part of a broader effort to rein in the administration's efforts to impose trade barriers.
The Senate voted 52-48 to approve a measure that would repeal 50% duty to Brazil introduced by President Trump in July. Five Republicans joined Democrats to pass it: Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul of Kentucky.
The success of the resolution, which required only a simple majority to pass, may be only symbolic. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, is unlikely to bring the measure to a House vote, and even if he did, President Trump would almost certainly veto it.
Still, the vote tested support for the president's tariff policy among Republicans, reflecting concerns within the party about its impact on the U.S. economy, especially the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. This happened before arguments in the Supreme Court A case challenging Trump's authority to impose sweeping tariffs using emergency powers is pending this fall.
Tuesday's vote was the first of three planned by Democrats and a handful of Republicans aimed at undoing the president's tariff policies. Later this week, the Senate is expected to hold a similar vote on eliminating tariffs for Canada and other countries.
One of the lawmakers behind the move is Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., the lead sponsor of the measure approved Tuesday. On the eve of the vote, Kaine told reporters the effort underscores the dramatic impact tariffs have had on the U.S. economy in recent months.
“They talk about the economic destruction of tariffs, but they're also really about how much are we going to let the president get away with?” – Kane asked. “Do my colleagues have a gag reflex or not in terms of the powers that are constitutionally vested in Congress?”
The five Republicans who broke ranks did so despite last-minute lobbying support from Vice President J.D. Vance, who met with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill on Tuesday and urged them to support the president's policies. Vance told reporters after lunch that tariffs are a critical lever for Trump in international negotiations.
Blocking the president's emergency powers to set tariffs “is to deprive the president of the United States of this incredible leverage,” Vance told reporters outside the conference room next to the Senate chamber. “I think this is a huge mistake, and I know that most people here agree with me.”
Vice President J.D. Vance speaks to reporters after attending the weekly Senate political luncheon on Tuesday. Vance told reporters that tariffs are a critical source of leverage for President Trump on the international stage.
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Voting took place as President Trump is in Asia to travel to several countries where trade negotiations are the focus.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said Vance told Republicans that Trump was essentially on a trade mission.
“It's successful and generates a lot of revenue,” Hawley said of the trip, explaining his opposition to the measure. “I support the president’s tariff policy.”
Not all Republicans were convinced. Tillis said he would vote to cap the tariffs after the meeting.
“I just don’t think there’s a rational basis for it,” Tillis said. “If you start allowing that … it will create a lot of uncertainty in the business community.”
This summer, Trump initiated tariffs in Brazil to pressure the country's government to end what he called a “witch hunt” against his ally, Brazil's former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro was sentenced to prison last month. 27 years in prison for attempting a coup to stay in power after his defeat in the 2022 elections.
The vote was not the first time Senate Republicans have disagreed with Trump on tariffs. In April A measure to block tariffs on Canada received a simple majority in the Republican-led Senate. as a handful of GOP senators joined with Democrats to see the measure through. Kaine and Paul co-sponsored the measure, with McConnell, Collins and Murkowski voting in favor.
