Following 50% Tariff On Canada, Sens. Gillibrand And Welch, Rep. Schneider Announce Bill To Repeal And Refund President Trump’s Tariffs

Following 50% Tariff On Canada, Sens. Gillibrand And Welch, Rep. Schneider Announce Bill To Repeal And Refund President Trump's Tariffs

Aug 27, 2026

New York Families Have Spent Over $5,000 More Due To President Trump's Tariff Chaos And Other Reckless Policies

Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Peter Welch (D-VT) announced the Banning Antiquated Duties and Delivering Equitable American Levies (BAD DEAL) Act to repeal all tariffs levied under Section 338 of the Tariff Act and refund Americans for all duties paid under this authority. This includes the 50% tariffs on Canada that President Trump announced over the weekend. In response to President Trump's tariff threats, Canada is pledging dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs slated to come into effect after Labor Day.

A trade war with Canada will be detrimental to New York's economy. Canada is one of New York State's largest export markets for both goods and services, and the state imports more than $20 billion annually from Canada.

Gillibrand and Welch will introduce the BAD DEAL Act in September when the Senate is back in session. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) introduced the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives today. The full text of the bill can be found here.

"President Trump and Republicans promised to lower costs and make life more affordable, but they've used their total power in Washington to make life more expensive than ever," said Senator Gillibrand. "Let's be clear: the latest tariffs against Canada are a bad deal for New York families. I'm proud to introduce this legislation to end these costly tariffs and refund Americans. It's past time for President Trump to stop the political games, get back to the negotiation table, and make a deal that lowers costs and strengthens our economy."

"No good will come of this trade war with Canada. The only thing these tariffs will create is economic pain on both sides of the border, especially for Vermont and the other 33 states that rely on Canada as their largest trading partner," said Senator Welch. "Imposing on-again, off-again tariffs is the opposite of how we should treat our close friends and longtime allies, but it's endemic to how the Trump Administration operates. I'm proud to join my colleagues in leading the BAD DEAL Act to repeal these reckless tariffs and reclaim Congress' constitutional role in setting our trade policy."

"Every American deserves a fair shot to get ahead, and Trump's capricious and costly tariffs are making it exceedingly difficult to simply make ends meet," said Rep. Schneider. "President Trump's brazen and counterproductive trade war only damages the long-standing, mutually beneficial relationship with our neighbor, and second largest trading partner, Canada. This is a bad deal! It's a bad deal for American families, and it's a bad deal for American small businesses. I'm proud to work with my colleagues to introduce the aptly named BAD DEAL Act to repeal this outdated tariff authority AND refund the tariff duties paid. We will continue fighting to rein in Trump's costly tariffs and reassert Congress' authority before his on-again, off-again trade policy damages our international relationships for years to come."

The president's tariffs have previously been found to be unconstitutional and have already raised costs on New Yorkers. Poll after poll after poll have found that a resounding majority of Americans oppose Trump's tariffs actions that have raised prices and hurt their families.

Senator Gillibrand has opposed President Trump's tariffs since the start of his administration. Last year, she joined 14 of her colleagues in introducing the Small Business RELIEF Act to end Trump's Tariff Tax and refund small businesses their duties paid. She also sent a legal brief with 206 members of Congress emphasizing to the Supreme Court that these tariffs are illegal.

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