Senate Blocks Brazil Tariffs, Rebukes Trump Trade Strategy/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The U.S. Senate voted 52-48 to block former President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Brazil, signaling bipartisan discontent with his trade policy. Led by Senator Tim Kaine, the resolution faces steep odds in the GOP-led House. Despite likely defeat, the vote highlights growing GOP resistance and legal scrutiny over Trump’s tariff powers.
Brazil Tariff Reversal Quick Looks
- Senate voted 52–48 to nullify Trump’s tariffs on Brazil.
- Resolution targets tariffs on oil, coffee, and orange juice.
- Five GOP senators broke ranks to support the resolution.
- Senator Tim Kaine leads push against Trump’s tariff powers.
- House rules likely prevent resolution from advancing further.
- Trump would veto the measure even if it passed Congress.
- The move highlights GOP discomfort with trade war impacts.
- Supreme Court to review Trump’s use of emergency tariff powers.
- Kaine plans similar actions targeting tariffs on other countries.
Deep Look: Senate Rejects Trump’s Brazil Tariffs Amid Rising Republican Frustration
WASHINGTON — October 28, 2025 — In a significant political maneuver, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution Tuesday night aimed at repealing former President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Brazilian imports, including key commodities like oil, coffee, and orange juice. The 52-48 vote represents one of the most explicit acts of bipartisan resistance to Trump’s controversial trade strategies, which have drawn criticism from both economic experts and members of his own party.
The resolution, spearheaded by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, challenges the national emergency declarations Trump used as the legal foundation for the tariffs. While the legislation is unlikely to survive in the Republican-controlled House due to rule changes that allow GOP leadership to block votes, the Senate action serves as a public rebuke of Trump’s approach.
“This is not just about tariffs — it’s about how much unchecked power we’re allowing any president to wield,” Kaine stated, emphasizing that more votes on similar resolutions, including ones targeting Canadian tariffs, are on the horizon.
The initiative drew support from five Republican senators — Susan Collins (ME), Mitch McConnell (KY), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Rand Paul (KY), and Thom Tillis (NC) — who joined all Democrats in voting for the resolution. Their participation underlines a growing discomfort within the GOP over Trump’s use of trade policy as a political and economic weapon.
Economic Concerns Over Tariffs
The U.S. had a $6.8 billion trade surplus with Brazil last year, according to Census Bureau data, yet Trump imposed steep 50% tariffs citing political developments in Brazil, including the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Critics argue these tariffs have contributed to economic instability at home.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the tariffs as harmful and unnecessary. “Every American starting their day with a cup of coffee is paying for Trump’s reckless and frankly childish tariffs,” he said.
The Congressional Budget Office recently reported that Trump’s tariff policies could increase inflation and unemployment while stunting economic growth in the short term — a particularly dire warning amid current economic uncertainty.
Legal and Political Tensions Mount
Senator Kaine utilized a decades-old legislative mechanism that allows Congress to challenge emergency powers declared by the president. The strategy enables minority parties to bring such resolutions to a vote even when they don’t control the chamber.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance attempted to rally Republicans against the resolution, arguing that Trump’s tariff authority provides essential leverage in trade negotiations.
“To remove that leverage is to weaken our position globally,” Vance said, suggesting that opposing the tariffs amounts to undermining American workers and farmers.
However, several Republicans expressed a willingness to oppose the president’s tactics.
Senate veteran Mitch McConnell criticized trade wars for raising costs across the board. “Tariffs make both building and buying in America more expensive,” he said. “The economic harms of trade wars are not the exception — they are the rule.”
Senator Rand Paul added that invoking a national emergency to impose tariffs on Brazil is a dangerous misuse of presidential authority. “Emergencies should be about war, famine, or disaster — not trade disputes,” he stated. “It’s taxation without representation.”
Supreme Court Challenge Ahead
The debate over Trump’s tariff powers could soon reach a pivotal point. The Supreme Court is preparing to hear a case that challenges the legality of the emergency declarations Trump used to implement the tariffs. While lower courts have deemed many of Trump’s tariff actions unlawful, a definitive ruling could reshape presidential authority in trade for years to come.
More Resolutions to Come
Senator Kaine is planning to introduce more resolutions challenging Trump’s trade and military powers. He revealed a forthcoming proposal to limit the president’s ability to authorize military action in Venezuela without congressional approval.
“This is about reclaiming the legislative branch’s role in oversight and forcing accountability — even if we’re in the minority,” Kaine stated. “Republicans need to choose: stand with the Constitution or enable a pattern of abuse.”
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