The U.S. House of Representatives voted to roll back former President Donald Trump’s punitive tariffs on Canadian imports in a rare move to break with Trump-era trade policy, a possible reset in headNorth American Economic Relations. The resolution passed 219-211 is the result of an emerging congressional concern with the economic costs of widespread tariffs and a challenge to the use of the national emergency powers to implement trade measures.
On February 11, 2026, an act of parliament voted by the Republican-controlled House urged the rescission of the tariffs imposed on the people of Canada by executive order, under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The tariffs – originally justified by the Trump administration on the basis of supposed national security threats from illicit flow of drugs – had included levies of up to 35% against Canadian goods not subject to the US. The tariffs – initially justified by the Trump administration on the basis of supposed national security threats resulting from illicit flow of drugs – had included levies of up to 35% against Canadian goods not subject to the US.
Six Republicans joined almost all the Democrats in going along with the measure, which illustrate internal GOP divisions regarding trade and executive power. The vote came upon one of the first times the legislative branch of government openly rebuked the signature economic strategy of President Trump’s second term.
Congress Pushes Back on Executive Trade Powers
House Speaker Mike Johnson met with resistance among members of his own party as they broke with party lines to support the resolution. Trump publicly threatened Republicans who opposed his tariff policy that they would face political consequences, highlighting fundraising issues between traditions of high trade policy stake than partisan.
Democrats couched the vote as a vote against the excessive overreach of the executive. “This resolution helps to restore the balance to the U.S. trade framework,” said the bill’s sponsor as he emphasized the importance of predictable rules of trade and oversight by legislators. Republican supporters of the measure pointed to concerns about rising consumer prices and afraid of disruptions of supply chains that would have their supply chains disrupted by the tariffs.
The tariffs introduced in 2025 on Canada resulted in the interruption of one of the largest bilateral trade relationships in the world, putting a strain on industries on both sides of the border. Canada is a major supplier of goods like metals and lumber and energy products to the United States and the tariffs had triggered retaliatory duties from Ottawa.
Business groups and agricultural sectors in both countries said it would see increased cost and uncertainty in their supply chains as a result of the tariffs. Economists feared that trade barriers, if not reduced over a long period, keep conceding as soon as cross-border investment and economic development during a couple of key fields of the economy, together with manufacturing and automotive production.
While the House vote is symbolic, and not guaranteed to undo the tariffs immediately, the vote is a sign of a change toward restoring cooperation with Canada and reasserting the power of the Congress when it comes to trade policy. The measure now goes to the Senate and a veto by President Obama is widely anticipated, which would mean that, in order for any real change to be made, further negotiation or legislative action would need to be taken.
The vote also reflects a larger debate over the balance of powers when it comes to US trade policy. Critics of the Trump approach claim that using the emergency powers to apply broad tariffs destroys the role of the U.S. Congress and entrenched trade agreements such as the USMCA. Proponents of strong enforcement on trade assert tariffs are an important negotiating tool, although their use is controversial..
If implemented, the removal of the tariffs on Canada may reduce tensions in the relations of the United States and Canada, and benefit businesses that depend on integrated North American supply chains. It may also improve the legislative oversight of the future trade actions which may affect how the tariffs are implemented in response to economic or security challenges.
For now, House approval is an important statement of intent: Congress is pushing back on unilateral trade policy in favor of one more predictable, partnership-oriented approach with Canada, one of America’s closest and most important economic allies.