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The Senate voted Thursday to overturn many of President Donald Trump’s tariffs around the world, a rare rebuke of his trade policies that came just hours after Trump hailed his latest deal with China as a major economic victory.
The resolution — passed 51-47 with four Republicans joining all Democrats — would nullify several of the national emergencies Trump used to justify imposing wide-ranging import taxes on foreign goods. While the measure is almost certain to die in the House and face a presidential veto, it underscores growing unease within the GOP about Trump’s aggressive trade tactics.
Earlier in the day, Trump celebrated what he called a “historic” agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping, reached during talks in South Korea. The deal commits Beijing to purchasing 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually for three years in exchange for reduced U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump said the move would bring “prosperity and security to millions of Americans.”
GOP divisions emerge over tariffs
But back in Washington, several Republican senators openly broke ranks. Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky sided with Democrats to back the resolution.
Paul, who has long opposed broad tariffs, praised Trump for cutting rates on China but said “it still will lead to increased prices.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the president’s deal with Xi amounted to a climbdown, not a victory.
“Donald Trump has folded, leaving American families and farmers and small businesses to deal with the wreckage from his blunders,” Schumer said. “His erratic, on-again, off-again tariff policies have caused chaos.”
Democrats spotlight economic strain
Democrats used the procedural vote to spotlight the economic pain of higher prices and strained export markets.
“American families are being squeezed by prices going up and up and up,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who chairs the Senate Finance Committee. “In many ways, red states in rural areas are being hit the hardest.”
Still, most Republicans defended Trump’s approach, crediting him for leveraging tariffs to win new concessions from Beijing and other trading partners.
“The president’s negotiations are bearing fruit,” said Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who also chairs the Senate Finance Committee. He pointed to China’s renewed soybean purchases and decision to loosen export controls on rare earth elements as signs of progress.
Farm-state Republicans split on the deal
Farm-state Republicans greeted the soybean announcement with cautious optimism.
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) called the deal “huge news” for Kansas farmers, though he warned they would still need federal assistance to recover from years of lost sales.
“It’s not like you can snap your finger and send over $15 billion worth of sorghum and soybeans together overnight,” Marshall said.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) called the agreement “a start,” noting that China purchased almost 27 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans in 2024 — slightly more than what Trump’s new deal guarantees. Asked whether he agreed with Trump’s glowing assessment of the Xi meeting, Cramer smiled. “The president is nothing if not optimistic,” he said.
Legislative outcome unlikely to change policy
While the Senate’s votes this week — including measures to lift tariffs on Brazil and Canada — highlight bipartisan frustration, the House Republican leadership has blocked similar resolutions from advancing. Even if the measures passed, Trump is expected to veto any bill restricting his authority over trade.
Democrats, however, say the symbolic vote sends a message.
“The American people deserve to know that this Congress won’t sit silently while they pay the price for chaotic trade policies,” Schumer said.
