House Democrats plan to force vote on killing Trump tariffs
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Rep. Gregory Meeks speaks during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 13. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Wednesday he plans to force a vote on blocking the across-the-board tariffs announced by President Trump.
Why it matters: The vote would force Republicans to choose between their loyalty to Trump and rejecting a policy many of them fundamentally oppose.
- Republicans inserted language into last month's stopgap spending bill to block such a House vote on terminating the national emergency upon which Trump based his tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China.
- But Trump opened the door for a new vote by pegging his new baseline 10% tariff on U.S. imports to a fresh national emergency declaration.
What they're saying: "Trump just hit Americans with the largest regressive tax hike in modern history—massive tariffs on all imports," Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), the Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member, said in a post on X.
- "I'll soon introduce a privileged resolution to force a vote on ending the made up national emergency Trump is using to justify these taxes," Meeks said.
- "Republicans can't keep ducking this—it's time they show whether they support the economic pain Trump is inflicting on their constituents."
Between the lines: Even Democrats who support tariffs in theory are lining up against the ones Trump announced Wednesday.
- Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.) called the tariffs "overly broad" and "half-baked" and accused the president of lacking a comprehensive strategy.
- "I have always said that when used strategically, tariffs are a critical tool," said Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.).
- "However, the key word is 'strategically.' I'm concerned about the chaotic and immediate implementation of these wide-reaching tariffs."
The other side: "Once again, Democrats are asking you to suspend common sense and believe that it's bad for President Trump to fight for American workers and fight foreign tariffs with our own tariffs," said Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Brian Mast (R-Fla.).
- "Democrats are too weak to fight against anybody other than their own citizens."
By the numbers: If all Democrats were to support Meeks' resolution, only a handful of Republicans would need to cross over for it to pass.
- But Republicans may try to once again snuff out any attempt to force a tariff vote by inserting kill-switch language into a broader bill.
State of play: Senate Republicans are facing a similar squeeze right now ahead of a vote on a measure from Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) to terminate Trump's earlier national emergency.
- Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), both old-school, free trade-oriented Republicans, as well as libertarian Rep. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), have said they plan to vote for it.
- Senate Democrats need at least four Republican "yes" votes to pass the measure.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Brian Mast.
