The Senate rejected a resolution that sought to end President Donald Trump’s baseline tariff and additional tariffs on imported goods, The New York Times reported April 30.
Here are four things to know:
- The vote on the resolution was tied 49-49 due to the absence of Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Mitch McConnell, which meant supporters did not have enough votes to pass the resolution April 30. Vice President JD Vance cast the tiebreaking vote to table the reconsideration of the resolution, effectively killing the measure.
- The tariffs were enacted under President Trump’s April 2 executive order citing trade deficits as a national emergency. They include a baseline tariff of 10% on all imports, reciprocal tariffs on trading partners — which have been paused — and a 145% tariff on Chinese goods.
- Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden, who sponsored the resolution along with Sen. Rand Paul, said Congress must reassert its authority on trade policy.
“The United States Senate cannot be an idle spectator in the tariff madness,” Mr. Wyden said on the Senate floor, according to the Times. - The House has taken steps to block efforts to remove the current tariffs. This includes adopting a resolution in March that prevents any floor vote until Sept. 30 on measures related to terminating the related national emergency of trade deficits used to justify the president’s tariffs.
