House leaders are postponing their latest effort to block votes on President Donald Trump’s tariffs until 8:30 p.m. amid internal GOP backlash.
House Republican leaders are attempting to use a procedural measure to block any resolutions related to Trump’s tariffs until the end of July, restarting a moratorium on such votes that expired on January 31. But they face significant internal opposition from a band of tariff-skeptical Republicans, led by Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Rep. Kevin Kiley of California.
Several Republican lawmakers have expressed discomfort with a tariff regime that polling shows is broadly unpopular, even with parts of the GOP base, as Americans continue to grapple with high costs for everyday goods.
House leaders have side-stepped the controversy since last March, when they first used a procedural measure to block efforts to force a vote on the national emergency Trump used to implement the tariffs. The move has guarded members from a controversial vote ahead of a crucial midterm election and has protected the president from clear vote of Congressional disapproval as his administration attempts to strike agreements with major trading partners.
If Republicans fail to pass the new procedural block, Democrats are aiming to force a vote on Trump’s 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods as early as Wednesday, with votes on the president’s global tariffs and tariffs on Brazil and Mexico to follow.
The Senate has already disapproved of the tariffs four times.
