Senate Blocks Trump’s Global Tariffs in Bipartisan Move

The Senate has once again rejected President Donald Trump’s tariffs, this time on a global scale, marking a rare bipartisan effort. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and three other Republicans have joined Democrats to strike down Trump’s use of emergency powers to enact 10% tariffs on countries worldwide. This move follows previous votes to block specific tariffs on Brazil and Canada, with the current resolution targeting global tariffs. The vote was part of a series of efforts by senators to terminate Trump’s use of emergency powers to enact steep tariffs on foreign countries, despite his arguments that a national emergency arose from the U.S. goods trade deficit. The resolution, introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has been considered twice in the Senate, with the first vote narrowly defeated 49-49 due to absences on the day of the vote. The current vote saw four Republicans, including McConnell, joining Democrats to block the tariffs, but the legislation is unlikely to pass in the House, which has previously opposed Trump’s tariff policy. Meanwhile, Trump announced a reduction in fentanyl tariffs on China after talks with President Xi Jinping, bringing the duties down to 47% from 57%. The reduction comes after China agreed to help stymie the flow of chemicals into the U.S. that are used to create the dangerous narcotic and to ease export controls on rare earth minerals, which manufacturers in the U.S. rely on to create a variety of goods and electronics.