Wyden, Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to Challenge Trump’s Tariffs on Canada

Wyden, Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to Challenge Trump's Tariffs on Canada

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden refiled legislation to undo Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada, he announced today.

Since Trump exploited an emergency law - that is nearly half a century old - to launch a trade war with Canada, U.S. distilled spirits declined about 62 percent, while tourism from Canada to the U.S. fell by nearly 34 percent. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs on countries across the globe are the largest tax increase on American families in recent history. Most Americans do not support Trump's trade war with Canada, with a survey finding that 52 percent of adults are opposed.

"Donald Trump is crashing the economy and hiking prices on all kinds of products just because he is hellbent on slapping tariffs on Canada," Wyden said. "Congress has delegated far too much of its trade authority to the executive branch. It's time to put an end to Trump's tariff boondoggle that is squeezing the pocketbooks of working Americans."

The legislation passed the Senate in a 51-48 vote in April, but it has not been taken up by the House of Representatives. Since the legislation is privileged, the Senate will be required to vote on it.

Specifically, the legislation would terminate the February 1 emergency declaration that Trump used to launch his trade war, and it would eliminate the tariffs implemented on Canadian imports.

The legislation was led by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, D-Va., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Mark Warner, D-Va., and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. In addition to Wyden, the legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins, R-Maine, Angus King, I-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Peter Welch, D-Vt., Chris Coons, D-Del., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Jeanne Shaheen. D-N.H.

The text of the bill is here.