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The Senate Tuesday evening narrowly passed a resolution that would repeal President Donald Trump's tariffs on Brazil. The resolution was approved by a vote of 52-48. It needed a simple majority of votes to pass. Republicans Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, Thom Tillis and co-sponsor Rand Paul voted for the bill along with all Senate Democrats. The bill would terminate the emergency declaration that Trump made in July and, as a result, lift the tariffs that were imposed on Brazilian goods as a result. The vote was led by Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer, Tim Kaine, Jeanne Shaheen and Ron Wyden along with Paul. It's one of several resolutions Democrats plan to force votes on this week aimed at curbing the tariffs. Though the resolution is focused specifically on Brazil, the vote comes as the administration's trade policy has been a key focus of Trump's ongoing Asia trip. "President Trump's tariffs on Brazilian goods, which he imposed in an attempt to stop Brazil's prosecution of one of his friends, are outrageous," Kaine said in a statement. "Prices for all kinds of everyday goods -- including coffee, much of which is imported from Brazil -- are climbing. We must stop Trump from starting these incompetent and chaotic trade wars that are weakening our economy. I urge all of my colleagues to stand up for the principle that our economic policy should advance Americans' best interests, not ridiculous personal grievances." This sort of resolution is privileged, so there was nothing the Republican majority could do to prevent it from being brought up for a vote. Other Republicans have in the past supported efforts to curtail Trump's tariff power. Murkowski, Collins and Sen. Mitch McConnell joined Paul in an effort earlier this year to approve similar legislation that would have repealed Trump's tariffs on Canada. Their support, combined with Democrats, was enough for that legislation to clear the upper chamber in April. But the House never took it up and it's highly unlikely that it would take up any other bill that the Senate passes aimed at curtailing Trump's tariffs. Even if the House were to take up the bill, any resolution would also have to be signed by Trump, who would certainly reject it. During a closed-door Republican lunch earlier Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance urged Republicans to vote against the resolution. "If you look at what we're doing in Asia, if you look at all of the trade deals, the trade barriers that have been dropped by foreign countries on American consumers, they are happening because the president United States has been willing to use tariffs to give American workers and American farmers a better deal," Vance said. "To vote against that is to strip that incredible leverage for the president United States. I think it's a huge mistake, and I know most of the people in there agree with me."
