Republicans reject Trump’s 50% emergency tariffs on Brazil in Senate vote

Senate Republicans delivered a rare rebuke Tuesday to President Donald Trump and his trade strategy, even as they remain largely in step with the ongoing government shutdown.

A handful of Senate Republicans joined Senate Democrats to end Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose steep 50% tariffs on Brazil. Although the resolution, led by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., was advanced by the upper chamber, it cannot pass the House until early next year.

Indeed, House Republicans recently passed a rule that would not allow the House to consider legislation addressing Trump’s tariffs until January of next year.

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The White House has criticized Democrats for the ongoing shutdown that will force the National Nuclear Security Administration to furlough 80% of its staff. (Getty Images)

Five Senate Republicans, Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, joined all Senate Democrats in advancing the resolution by a vote of 52-48.

Their defection from fellow Republicans comes after Vice President JD Vance warned lawmakers not to vote against Trump’s use of tariffs during Senate Republicans’ closed-door luncheon earlier Tuesday.

Vance argued after the lunch that the tariffs gave Trump leverage to strike new trade deals benefiting the country and urged Republicans not to break ranks against the president.

“To vote against this is to take away from the President of the United States this incredible power of pressure. I think it’s a huge mistake and I know that most people here agree with me,” he said.

Trump initially used his emergency powers to enact tougher tariffs on Brazil in July and argued “that the scope and severity of the Government of Brazil’s recent policies, practices and actions pose an unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States.

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Vice President JD Vance warned lawmakers not to vote against Trump’s use of tariffs during Senate Republicans’ closed-door luncheon earlier Tuesday. (Alex Wong/Getty)

This is not the first time the Senate has disapproved of Trump’s tariffs. Earlier this year, Republicans joined Democrats in rejecting Trump’s emergency declaration for 25% tariffs against Canada, and they tried, unsuccessfully, to reject his use of global tariffs.

Kaine also plans to introduce two other resolutions, one aimed at blocking tariffs on Canadian products and another on Trump’s global tariffs, later this week.

“It makes no sense to impose tariffs on Brazil, and it’s just done to support the president’s friend,” Kaine told reporters before the vote.

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Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, March 13, 2025. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Kaine was referring to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who at the time of Trump’s statement was facing charges of attempted coup following an election defeat in 2022. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison in September.

Paul argued that “emergencies are like war, famine, tornado, not liking someone’s tariffs is not an emergency.”

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“Customs duties are an import tax, it’s a tax, not a tax on China,” Paul said. “This is a tax on people who buy products from China, who are mostly Americans. The taxes are supposed to come from the House, so I will continue to vote to end the emergency.”

When asked why more Senate Republicans haven’t joined him on his tariff stance, Paul responded, “Fear.”