House Passes Bill to Reverse Trump’s Tariffs on Canada

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives approved a bill that seeks to roll back President Donald Trump’s tariffs imposed on Canada. This move was notable as several Republicans sided with Democrats, marking a rare instance of dissent against the Republican president.

The legislation aims to overturn Trump’s national emergency declaration concerning the northern border. The Democrats utilized a procedural tactic, known as a privilege resolution, to force the vote despite objections from the House’s majority leadership.

Back in February 2025, Trump enacted an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on most goods coming from Canada and Mexico, along with an additional 15% levy on energy imports from Canada. The administration maintained that these tariffs served as penalties for the countries not doing enough to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking into the U.S.

Critics of Trump’s tariff policy have particularly targeted the actions against Canada. They argue it unfairly impacts one of the U.S.’s closest allies and trading partners, ultimately hurting American consumers. “Tariffs cost American households nearly $1,700 last year, and those costs are projected to rise in 2026,” Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, who sponsored the bill, said during the debate.

Meeks added, “Since these tariffs were imposed, U.S. exports to Canada have decreased by over 21 percent. My constituents don’t have an extra $1,700 to spend; they want me to help lower food prices and healthcare costs.”

He insisted, “Canada is our friend, an ally. Canadians fought alongside Americans in both World War II and in Afghanistan. There’s no national emergency or security threat justifying these tariffs.”

Responding to Meeks’ comments, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-Fla.) argued that the resolution effectively ends the national emergency concerning fentanyl, warning, “In his state, 5,000 people die from fentanyl each year. Who pays the price if he ends this emergency?” He further claimed that Canada would have to confront fentanyl issues for the first time due directly to the resolution.

Mast described the measure not as a debate on tariffs, but as a failure to address the fentanyl crisis. The resolution, initially put forward by Democrats months ago, faced delays due to House Republican efforts to block attempts to rescind Trump’s emergency declaration.

Trump had leveraged the state of emergency to bypass Congress when addressing tariff decisions, leading to mixed reactions among lawmakers. However, with the resolution now passed, the next step lies with the Senate, where previous attempts to limit Trump’s tariff authority have been made.

Even if the Senate approves the bill, a veto from the president seems likely. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska), one of the Republicans who broke with party lines on this issue, stated, “It’s time for Congress to weigh in on tariffs.”