Senate Republicans defy Vance’s warning, vote to block Trump’s Brazil tariffs amid shutdown
In a surprising turn of events, a faction of Senate Republicans has publicly challenged President Donald Trump’s controversial trade policies, specifically his use of emergency powers to impose hefty tariffs on Brazil. This move came amid an ongoing government shutdown, highlighting a rare moment of dissent within the GOP ranks. Led by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), the resolution to curb Trump’s tariffs passed with a narrow 52-48 vote, garnering bipartisan support from five Republican senators: Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, and Thom Tillis. However, the resolution’s progress is stalled in the House due to a recent rule passed by House Republicans, which prevents any legislation concerning Trump’s tariffs from being considered until January.
Trump’s tariffs, which include a staggering 50% tax on Brazilian imports, were justified by the president as a necessary measure to counter what he described as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” posed by Brazil’s government. This declaration came shortly after former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro faced legal troubles following his electoral defeat in 2022. Critics, including Kaine, argue that these tariffs are politically motivated rather than economically justified, with Kaine suggesting they serve to support Trump’s allies rather than protect American interests. Rand Paul, another Republican senator who has consistently opposed Trump’s tariff strategy, emphasized that such emergency powers should be reserved for genuine crises, not for trade disagreements.
The dissent among Senate Republicans is noteworthy, especially given Vice President J.D. Vance’s recent warnings against breaking ranks with Trump during a closed-door GOP meeting. Vance argued that maintaining these tariffs provides Trump with leverage for negotiating favorable trade deals, a sentiment echoed by many within the party. Nonetheless, the growing unease among some Republicans regarding Trump’s trade approach reflects a broader concern about the implications of such tariffs on American consumers, who ultimately bear the cost. As the political landscape continues to evolve, with Kaine planning additional resolutions to challenge Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods and global imports, it remains to be seen how this internal Republican conflict will influence future trade policies and party unity.
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Senate Republicans offered a rare rebuke against President
Donald Trump
and his trade strategy on Tuesday, despite still remaining largely in lockstep amid the ongoing government shutdown.
A handful of Senate Republicans joined Senate Democrats to end Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement steep, 50%
tariffs on Brazil
. While the resolution, led by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., advanced from the upper chamber, it can’t be taken up in the House until early next year.
That’s because House Republicans recently passed a rule that would not allow the chamber to consider legislation dealing with Trump’s tariffs until January of next year.
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Five Senate Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, joined all Senate Democrats to advance the resolution with a 52-48 vote.
Their defection from their GOP colleagues comes after Vice President
JD Vance
warned lawmakers not to vote against Trump’s usage of tariffs during Senate Republicans’ closed-door lunch earlier on Tuesday.
Vance argued after the lunch that tariffs give Trump leverage to craft new trade deals that benefit the country and urged Republicans not to break ranks against the president.
“To vote against that is to strip that incredible leverage from the president of the United States. I think it’s a huge mistake and I know most of the people in there agree with me,” he said.
Trump initially used emergency powers to enact stiffer tariffs on Brazil in July and argued “that the scope and gravity of the recent policies, practices, and actions of the Government of Brazil constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat” to the U.S.
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It’s not the first time the Senate has disapproved of Trump’s tariffs. Earlier this year, Republicans joined Democrats to rebuke Trump’s emergency declaration for 25% tariffs against Canada, and they tried and failed to reject his use of global tariffs.
Kaine also has plans to bring two more resolutions, one to block tariffs on Canadian goods and the other on Trump’s global tariffs, later this week.
“It makes no sense to impose tariffs on Brazil, and it’s just being done to back up the president’s friend,” Kaine told reporters ahead of the vote.
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Kaine was referring to former Brazilian President
Jair Bolsonaro
, who at the time of Trump’s declaration, was being prosecuted for an attempted coup after an election loss in 2022. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison in September.
Paul argued that “emergencies are like war, famine, tornado, not liking someone’s tariffs is not an emergency.”
”
Tariffs are an import tax
, they are a tax, not a tax on China,” Paul said. “It’s a tax on the people who buy stuff from China, which are mostly Americans. Taxes are supposed to originate in the House, so I will continue to vote to end the emergency.”
When asked why more Senate Republicans hadn’t joined him on his tariff position, Paul said, “Fear.”
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
