The Senate votes down resolution to block Trump's global tariffs amid
economic turmoil
[May 01, 2025]
By MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans narrowly voted down a Democratic
resolution Wednesday that would have blocked global tariffs announced by
Donald Trump earlier this month, giving the president a modest win as
lawmakers in both parties have remained skeptical of his trade agenda.
Trump announced the far-reaching tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading
partners April 2 and then reversed himself a few days later after a
market meltdown, suspending the import taxes for 90 days. Amid the
uncertainty for both U.S. consumers and businesses, the Commerce
Department said Wednesday that the U.S. economy shrank 0.3% from January
through March, the first drop in three years.
The 49-49 vote came weeks after the Senate approved a resolution that
would have have thwarted Trump’s ability to impose tariffs on Canada.
That measure passed 51-48 with the votes of four Republicans — Sens.
Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitch McConnell and
Rand Paul of Kentucky. But McConnell — who has been sharply critical of
the tariffs but had not said how he would vote — and Democratic Sen.
Sheldon Whitehouse were absent Wednesday, denying Democrats the votes
for passage.
Democrats said their primary aim was to put Republicans on the record
either way and to try to reassert congressional powers.
“The Senate cannot be an idle spectator in the tariff madness,” said
Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, a lead sponsor of the resolution.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the dismal economic numbers
should be a “wakeup call” to Republicans.
Wary of a rebuke to Trump, GOP leaders encouraged their conference not
to vote for the resolution, even as many of them remain unconvinced
about the tariffs. Vice President JD Vance attended a Senate GOP
luncheon Tuesday with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who
assured senators that the administration is making progress toward trade
deals with individual countries.
Collins said the close vote “demonstrates that there is unease with the
president’s plan.”
“It’s partially the president’s plan is still evolving but many of us
are hearing from employers back home about the impact of the tariffs in
a negative way,” she said.
Some Republicans argued that the vote was a political stunt. North
Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said he backs separate legislation by Iowa
Sen. Chuck Grassley that would give Congress increased power over
determining tariffs but would voted on the resolution, which he said is
only about “making a point.”
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Several Republicans defended Trump's tariffs — and said they were
willing to give him time to figure it out.
“People are willing to give the president an opportunity to prove
that the new system works,” said Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn said the vote shows that senators “believe
that the President’s policies deserve to be tried and see if they’re
successful.”
Democrats say the Republicans’ failure to stand up to Trump could
have dire consequences. “The only thing Donald Trump’s tariffs have
succeeded in is raising the odds of recession and sending markets
into a tailspin,” said Schumer, D-N.Y. “Today, they have to choose –
stick with Trump or stand with your states.”
The Democratic resolution forced a vote under a statute that allows
them to try to terminate the national economic emergency Trump used
to levy the tariffs.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren called it a “fake” emergency
that Trump is using to impose his “on again, off again, red light,
green light tariffs.”
The tariffs “are pushing our economy off a cliff,” Warren said.
Republicans held a procedural vote after the tied vote to ensure
that Democrats could not bring the resolution up again, Senate
Majority Leader John Thune told reporters afterward. Vice President
J.D. Vance came to the Capitol to break the tie and ensure they
dismissed the resolution for good.
The Republican president has tried to reassure voters that his
tariffs will not provoke a recession as his administration has
focused on China, raising tariffs on Chinese goods to 145% even as
he paused the others. He told his Cabinet Wednesday morning that his
tariffs meant China was “having tremendous difficulty because their
factories are not doing business.”
Trump said the U.S. does not really need imports from the world’s
dominant manufacturer. “Maybe the children will have two dolls
instead of 30 dolls,” he said. “So maybe the two dolls will cost a
couple bucks more than they would normally.”
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Associated Press writers Leah Askarinam and Lisa Mascaro contributed
to this report.
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