Washington — A sharply contested vote in the U.S. House of Representatives has delivered a rare bipartisan rebuke to former President Donald Trump’s trade agenda, intensifying debate over the balance of power in American economic diplomacy. Lawmakers voted 219–211 to overturn tariffs imposed on Canadian imports, with six Republicans joining Democrats to pass the resolution.

The tariffs — some as high as 35% — had been enacted under a 2025 national emergency declaration tied by the Trump administration to fentanyl trafficking concerns. Critics in Congress, however, rejected that justification, arguing the measures strained relations with a key ally while raising costs for American consumers and businesses.

House leaders described the vote as a reassertion of Congress’s constitutional authority over taxation and trade. Under Article I of the U.S. Constitution, tariff-setting power resides with the legislative branch, though presidents have increasingly exercised unilateral authority through emergency statutes and executive actions. The House also rejected procedural efforts by Republican leadership to block votes challenging the tariffs, opening the door to further legislative scrutiny of Trump’s trade policies.

Despite its political symbolism, the resolution faces steep obstacles. It must still pass the Senate and survive a likely presidential veto — thresholds analysts say are difficult to meet without overwhelming bipartisan support.

The vote nevertheless carries immediate diplomatic implications. Canada, one of the United States’ largest trading partners, has been positioned at the forefront of renewed negotiations should tariff relief advance. Lawmakers backing repeal argue that stabilizing North American trade is essential to supply-chain security, particularly in automotive and energy sectors.

Beyond bilateral commerce, the clash reflects a deeper institutional struggle. Courts and legislators alike have begun scrutinizing the executive branch’s expanding use of emergency economic powers to impose tariffs without congressional approval.

Whether the House vote marks a turning point or merely a symbolic protest remains uncertain. But the message is unmistakable: Congress is testing its willingness to reclaim trade authority — even at the risk of complicating presidential leverage abroad. In the evolving contest between legislative oversight and executive flexibility, the future architecture of U.S. economic statecraft may now hang in the balance.