Senate Fails to Block Trump’s Tariffs Amid Growing Economic Concerns

The US Senate narrowly rejected a resolution aimed at blocking President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on Wednesday, despite bipartisan concerns over the potential impact on the US economy, Al Jazeera reports.

The vote came just hours after government data revealed that the US economy had contracted for the first time in three years, adding fuel to the debate over the administration’s trade policies.

The resolution failed to pass with a 49-49 vote, falling short of the required majority. The vote highlighted a rare rebuke of Trump from within his own party, with Republican Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joining all present Democrats and Independents in supporting the measure.

Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat representing Oregon, passionately argued for the resolution before the vote, stating, “The United States Senate cannot be an idle spectator in the tariff madness. The Congress has the power to set tariffs and regulate global trade.”

While the resolution was largely seen as a symbolic gesture due to its unlikely chance of success in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and the President’s veto power, supporters argued it was a crucial step in holding the administration accountable.

Senator Paul, co-sponsor of the resolution, underscored the importance of the debate, stating:

“It’s still a debate worth having, because, you know, if a month from now, we have massive tariffs go on, and we have a massive sell off in the stock market, and we didn’t have a first good quarter in growth, and if it’s worse again in the second quarter, people would start asking, ‘Is it good policy, or is it a bad policy?'”

President Trump has downplayed concerns that his aggressive use of tariffs, including a 145 percent duty on goods from China, could lead to a recession.

The US Department of Commerce released data on Wednesday showing that the economy contracted by 0.3 percent in the first quarter of the year, a period preceding the implementation of Trump’s most significant tariffs.