Senator Tim Kaine speaks to reporters alongside Senator Amy Klobuchar after the Democratic Senate weekly policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on April 1 in Washington, DC. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
A split is brewing in the US Congress over Donald Trump’s new customs measures. On Wednesday, a group of Republican senators opposed the president and supported Democrats in voting for a symbolic resolution condemning a 25% duty on imports from Canada. This was reported by The Guardian.
The decision is not legally binding, but it is a serious signal of dissatisfaction with Trump, even in his own party. Four Republicans joined the Democrats, and the Senate passed the document by 51 votes to 48.
The senators also voted to lift the “state of emergency” at the border, which Trump used to justify the introduction of new tariffs. However, this initiative is unlikely to become law: House Speaker Mike Johnson has promised to block the vote, and Trump himself has said he will never sign the document, calling it a “political stunt by the Democrats”.
The vote took place amid financial turmoil as global markets plummeted following Trump’s announcement of new duties. The US President ordered a minimum 10% duty on all imported goods, 20% on products from the EU, 34% from China, 31% from Switzerland, 26% from India, and 10% from the UK and Brazil. In addition, a 25% duty on all cars manufactured outside the US has been confirmed.
Washington is preparing for a possible response from Canada, Europe and other countries that are already criticising Trump’s policies as a threat to the global economy.
