WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week the Senate narrowly voted down a measure that would’ve blocked President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Some said the close vote demonstrates the uneasiness with the President’s tariff plans.
In the failed 49 to 49 vote, the measure would’ve essentially revoked the emergency order the President used to enact the global tariffs. Vice President JD Vance had to cast the tie breaking vote to table a Democratic motion that would allow them to force another vote next week on the tariffs resolution.
A handful of Senate republicans joined Democrats, but a couple of members, including Republican Senator Mitch McConnell (R- KY), who were expected to support the measure, were not present for the vote. If the measure were to make it out of the Senate, it is likely it would fail in the House.
“A trade war is ultimately paid for by the taxpayers,” McConnell has said before regarding tariffs.
The Democrats’ goal was to put Republicans on record on the issue of tariffs, which has caused uncertainty in global markets and in local communities.
“President Trump has promised he would get costs to go down but all we’ve seen is costs go up,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D- NY). When we asked her about tariffs after the failed vote, she said she hopes they’ll have another vote on this in the future.
“I think these tariffs are extremely destructive because there is no rhyme or reason to what the tariff is at any given time at any given country,” said Sen. Gillibrand. “President Trump has created chaos and lack of certainty for businesses all across New York and all across the country. We do enormous amounts of business with places like Mexico and Canada and Europe. A lot of our imports from manufacturers come from abroad. These outrageous, enormous tariffs on China is going to result in very high costs to New Yorkers. Cost of everyday items, everything you buy at a big box store a good percentage of that is coming from China. The costs of household items, computers, technology, so many things are really manufactured in China, so it just means that everybody will pay more.”
“What I’ve told President Trump and his team is that I hope in the next few days and the next few weeks to come out with a couple of signature deals; here’s what we’ve negotiated, that will be the template and it will show businesses and consumers here’s where we’re headed,” said Sen. Dave McCormick (R- PA). “We have 70 more countries lined up and here’s where we’re headed and I think that will reduce some of the anxiety people are feeling.
We asked him which countries or sectors the President would like to focus on for tariffs:
“The big adversary here- the worst trade has been China,” said Sen. McCormick. “I don’t know what the President’s plan is yet but I would like to see a couple of key deals with Asian partners that kind of isolate China. So, I would like to see a deal with Japan, I would love to see a deal with South Korea, I would love to see a deal with India and I would love to see a deal with Vietnam.”
Senator McCormick, who voted against the measure, said he understands the anxiety people and businesses are feeling towards tariffs, but is encouraging people to be patient with the President’s plan.
“The bottom line here is the President’s goal is to create a vibrate real economy that everyday Americans, everyday Pennsylvanians- it’s not the stock market, the stock market is important and I’ll come back to that- but it’s a great economy for working families,” said Sen. McCormick. “And if we do that the stock market will be just fine.”
