In a surprising turn of events, five Senate Republicans joined forces with Democrats on Tuesday to oppose President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Brazil. This bipartisan vote, which ended with a 52 to 48 outcome, highlights a growing divide within the GOP regarding Trump’s trade policies.
The Republicans who broke ranks with the president included Senators Susan Collins from Maine, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul from Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, and Thom Tillis from North Carolina. McConnell, in a statement defending his vote, emphasized that while some celebrate the revenue from tariffs, they often overlook the negative impact these policies have on American growers and producers.
He pointed out that tariffs drive up costs for both building and buying goods in the U.S. McConnell noted that the economic repercussions of trade wars are typically harmful, not beneficial, contradicting some narratives that suggest otherwise.
The Senate resolution against Trump’s tariffs is largely symbolic and is not expected to pass in the House of Representatives. More resolutions related to Trump’s tariffs are anticipated in the Senate this week.
Ahead of the vote, Vice President JD Vance cautioned his fellow Republicans against opposing the president, labeling it a “big mistake.” Vance argued that tariffs allow the U.S. to prioritize American workers and encourage domestic investment.
Before Trump’s trade policies, U.S. tariffs on Brazil were around 3%, while Brazil’s tariffs on American goods were higher, at about 11%. However, in April, Trump introduced sweeping tariffs, imposing a minimum 10% levy on all nations, with some countries facing even higher rates. In July, he threatened to raise tariffs on Brazilian goods to as much as 50% due to Brazil’s treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Since taking office, Trump has aggressively reshaped U.S. trade relations, imposing hefty tariffs on both allies and adversaries as part of a strategy to reduce trade deficits and gain leverage in international matters. He has often cited emergency powers to justify these tariffs, a move currently under scrutiny by the Supreme Court.
Trump has warned that if he loses the legal battle over his tariff authority, the U.S. economy could face severe long-term consequences.
