US Senate Passes Bill to Scrap Brazil Tariffs as Bipartisan Opposition Grows Under Trump
In a rare display of bipartisan cooperation, the US Senate voted 52-48 on Tuesday to scrap tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Brazilian imports. The bill, spearheaded by Democrat Tim Kaine, aims to overturn national emergency declarations justifying the levies, which target coffee, beef, and other products.
Faced with a divided Congress and an ongoing government shutdown, five Republican senators – Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky – joined all Democrats in supporting the measure. The vote comes as Trump's trade policies continue to face growing opposition from within his own party.
Critics argue that tariffs imposed by a single individual on American consumers and businesses are an abuse of executive power, particularly during a national emergency. Senator Paul called it "Congress abdicating their traditional role in taxes." Kaine described the move as an "end-run" around Congress, adding that Trump's attempt to justify his decision with a national emergency is "unprecedented."
Brazil's trade surplus with the US has been estimated at nearly $7 billion last year. The country's president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, met with Trump on Monday, signaling optimism about reaching a trade deal.
The bill faces an uncertain fate in the House of Representatives, where Republicans have taken steps to block any attempts to scrap the tariffs. Even if it reaches Trump's desk, his expected veto makes passage unlikely. However, this is not the first time Republican lawmakers have expressed doubts about the president's trade policies.
In a rare display of bipartisan cooperation, the US Senate voted 52-48 on Tuesday to scrap tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Brazilian imports. The bill, spearheaded by Democrat Tim Kaine, aims to overturn national emergency declarations justifying the levies, which target coffee, beef, and other products.
Faced with a divided Congress and an ongoing government shutdown, five Republican senators – Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky – joined all Democrats in supporting the measure. The vote comes as Trump's trade policies continue to face growing opposition from within his own party.
Critics argue that tariffs imposed by a single individual on American consumers and businesses are an abuse of executive power, particularly during a national emergency. Senator Paul called it "Congress abdicating their traditional role in taxes." Kaine described the move as an "end-run" around Congress, adding that Trump's attempt to justify his decision with a national emergency is "unprecedented."
Brazil's trade surplus with the US has been estimated at nearly $7 billion last year. The country's president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, met with Trump on Monday, signaling optimism about reaching a trade deal.
The bill faces an uncertain fate in the House of Representatives, where Republicans have taken steps to block any attempts to scrap the tariffs. Even if it reaches Trump's desk, his expected veto makes passage unlikely. However, this is not the first time Republican lawmakers have expressed doubts about the president's trade policies.
5 republicans joining all dems to scrap brazil tariffs is a big deal. it shows even in trump era, people are getting wise to his trade tactics 
. senator paul saying congress is abdicating its role in taxes makes total sense. shouldn't be one guy making decisions that affect us all? 
and 7 billion dollar trade surplus is pretty crazy 
. hope brazil gets a good deal out of this tho 
. and brazil's president just happens to meet with him after the senate votes to scrap the tariffs? sounds too convenient to me... what if there's more to this story than we're being told? 
, but I guess that's what happens when you're a latecomer to online threads 
! Anyway, it makes sense to me that more people are starting to speak up against those tariffs...I mean, who wants to hurt their own economy? 
. I wonder what will happen next tho 
i mean, trump tariffs on coffee beans? what a thing! but anywayz back to the topic... i think its cool that some republicans are finally speaking up against trump's trade policies. like, they r not all against it or anything, but at least some of them r willing to listen and have an opnion 
But now we'll just have to wait and see what happens in the House of Representatives. If they block the bill, it could set back any progress towards a trade deal with Brazil. 
I'm so proud of those 5 republicans who stood with Democrats on this one! It's about time we see bipartisan cooperation in action 
. Tariffs are supposed to be a tool for Congress, not just some president making it up as he goes along 
. Let's hope this bill makes its way through the House and becomes law 
!
And now they're just going to veto it anyway? 
. Anyway, I guess this means Brazilian imports will be cheaper for Americans now 
... finally some leaders puttin' country over party 
... I know how frustrating tariffs can be, especially on everyday stuff like coffee and beef 
... it's a big deal for Brazil too, with that massive trade surplus 
- thats like, totally huge right now 
can't believe McConnell and all those others were down with it too 
. senator paul saying congress is abdicating its role in taxes is so true, we gotta hold the exec branch accountable 
. also, it's interesting to see brazil's president meeting with trump after this bill passes - maybe they're really interested in making amends? 
This is exactly what happens when you try to impose your will without checking in with Congress, right? 
I'm loving this positive vibe in the Senate! It's amazing to see bipartisan opposition growing under President Trump, especially when it comes to trade policies