WASHINGTON – A fresh bid by minority Democrats to abolish former President Donald Trump’s small-scale global tariffs was defeated yesterday as the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives voted along party lines to delay any such move.
The attempt, which sought to overturn a national emergency declaration that enabled Trump to impose the tariffs, was derailed through a procedural tactic that could delay further action until October.
House Speaker Mike Johnson used a legal loophole—counting the remainder of the fiscal year as a single calendar day—to prevent a vote within the 15-day window allowed under the National Emergencies Act for bringing a disapproval resolution to the floor.
The latest move effectively blocks the Democrats’ resolution introduced Tuesday to terminate the emergency powers underpinning Trump’s tariff authority.
While the urgency of the matter has somewhat eased after Trump unexpectedly paused his trade war, granting a 90-day reprieve on retaliatory tariffs for most countries, Democrats remain sharply critical of the Republican move.
“This is an alarming erosion of congressional oversight,” said Representative Gregory Meeks, who led the push against Trump’s tariff powers. “The Speaker is clearly afraid that members will be forced to vote on bringing down the cost of living for everyday Americans.”
Despite the Republican blockade, Meeks and fellow Democrats voiced frustration at what they see as Congress becoming a mere spectator in critical foreign trade decisions—responsibilities they argue are constitutionally assigned to the legislative branch.
Republican leaders defended their position, with Representative Virginia Foxx pointing out that Democrats used a similar tactic in 2021 to stop Republicans from ending the COVID-19 national emergency. “Both parties have used this procedural tool when it suited their majority,” she reminded.
Speaker Johnson, speaking to reporters, defended the move, saying it preserved Trump’s authority to counter unfair trade practices. “This is part of the president’s role—to negotiate with foreign leaders. President Trump is carrying out that duty effectively.”
The standoff highlights an ongoing power struggle over trade authority and emergency declarations, with implications for how the U.S. balances executive power and legislative oversight in future trade and economic policies. -MalayaDailyToday
