Four Republicans joined Democrats in the Senate to pass, 51-48, a joint resolution Wednesday that would effectively end President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on Canadian goods in a vote that revealed GOP resistance to the administration’s sweeping trade agenda.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was a co-sponsor of the measure offered by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, along with Paul, voted in support of the resolution. Republicans had previously been largely uncritical of Trump’s trade agenda.
“It is crucial that we remain a dependent and vibrant global trading partner, particularly with Canada,” Collins said, raising concerns about the impact on aquaculture, manufacturing, tourism and other industries. “These tariffs on Canada would jeopardize current jobs and also block future ones.”
