WASHINGTON - The Senate on Wednesday passed a Republican-led bill to rescind a series of tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump on goods imported from Brazil, marking a rare bipartisan moment of opposition to the protectionist trade policies championed by the former administration. The vote comes as Trump prepares for a potential meeting with Chinese President Xi jinping and amid a Supreme Court case questioning the legality of broad presidential authority to enact tariffs.
The move to eliminate the tariffs, initially enacted in 2019, offers a potential economic boost to American businesses and consumers reliant on Brazilian imports, and signals a growing willingness among some Republicans to distance themselves from Trump’s trade war tactics. While the bill’s passage in the Senate doesn’t guarantee its enactment – it still requires approval from the House and the signature of President Biden – it represents a important step toward potentially rolling back a key component of the former president’s economic agenda.
Senator Ron johnson, Republican of Wisconsin, urged colleagues not to “undermine his positions so he can get these trade deals,” referring to Trump’s anticipated meeting with Xi.The tariffs on Brazil were implemented following disagreements over trade imbalances and agricultural policies.
The Senate’s action also arrives as the Supreme Court prepares to hear a case challenging Trump’s authority to impose tariffs through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Lower courts have ruled the president lacks the legal basis for such broad levies. some Republicans,like Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota,are awaiting the court’s decision before taking further action,stating,”There’s a case in front of the supreme court,we’ll see how that case plays out.”
This vote follows a similar effort in April,where four Republicans joined Democrats to attempt to roll back tariffs on Canada,though a subsequent attempt to block Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs failed due to absences. The current bill’s passage indicates a shifting dynamic within the Republican party regarding trade policy.
