WASHINGTON The House voted Tuesday to repeal tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, dairy, and aluminum that have been in place since 2018, marking the most significant congressional challenge to former President Donald Trump’s trade agenda since he left office.
The measure passed with bipartisan support, 254–175, and now moves to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain.
If enacted, the repeal would terminate duties that have added billions of dollars in costs for American homebuilders, manufacturers, and consumers over the past six years. It would also remove retaliatory tariffs Canada placed on U.S. products in response.
Policy Outlives Its Architect
The tariffs were originally imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which grants the executive branch authority to restrict imports on national security grounds. The Trump administration argued that reliance on foreign metals and lumber posed a strategic risk.
Critics disputed that characterization from the start. Canada is a NATO ally and party to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the trade pact Trump himself negotiated to replace NAFTA. The national security rationale, trade lawyers and economists said, was legally questionable.
Nevertheless, the duties remained in effect through the Biden administration. While President Biden revoked similar tariffs on European steel and aluminum in 2021, the Canadian duties were left in place. The White House did not actively defend them but also did not move to rescind them.
Tuesday’s vote represents the first successful legislative effort to force the issue.
Industry Pressure Mounts
The repeal effort gained momentum in recent months as industry groups intensified lobbying campaigns. The National Association of Home Builders estimates that tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber have added an average of $18,600 to the price of a new single-family home. The National Retail Federation and the Distilled Spirits Council also pressed lawmakers, citing Canadian counter-tariffs on American orange juice, yogurt, and whiskey.
“These tariffs were sold as protection for American workers, but American workers have been paying for them at the hardware store and the grocery store,” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), a lead sponsor of the repeal measure. “It’s time to admit this experiment failed and move on.”
Republican support came largely from members representing districts with significant construction, retail, or agricultural interests. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), who co-sponsored the bill, said the tariffs had “outlived whatever limited purpose they may have served.”
“We’re taxing our own people to prop up a policy that isn’t working,” Fitzpatrick said.
Canadian Response
Canadian officials have welcomed the House vote but stopped short of declaring victory. Trade Minister Mary Ng said in a statement that Canada “has always maintained that these tariffs are unwarranted and harmful to both our economies.”
“We remain hopeful that the Senate will act swiftly,” Ng said.
Ottawa has signaled that if the tariffs are repealed, it will immediately lift its remaining retaliatory measures. Those duties have targeted approximately $2.7 billion in annual U.S. exports, with specific products chosen to maximize political pressure on key congressional districts.
Senate Prospects Uncertain
The bill’s path through the Senate is less clear. While several Senate Republicans have expressed openness to tariff repeal, leadership has not indicated whether the measure will receive a floor vote.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who plans to introduce companion legislation in the upper chamber, said he is working to secure the 60 votes needed to overcome a potential filibuster.
“There’s broad agreement on both sides that these tariffs make no sense,” Wyden said. “The question is whether we can get it across the finish line.”
Some trade analysts note that the White House has not taken a formal position on the repeal. While the Biden administration has not defended the tariffs, it has also not actively lobbied for their removal. Absent presidential pressure, Senate action may depend on sustained industry advocacy and constituent pressure.
Broader Implications
The vote signals a shift in how Congress approaches trade enforcement. For decades, lawmakers delegated significant tariff authority to the executive branch, with minimal legislative oversight. The Trump administration used that authority expansively, and the Biden administration inherited rather than dismantled much of it.
Tuesday’s vote suggests Congress may be reclaiming some of that ground.
“Trade policy has become presidential by default, not by design,” said Jennifer Hillman, a former WTO appellate body member and trade official. “What you’re seeing now is Congress remembering it has a role here.”
If the Senate passes the repeal, it would mark one of the few instances since World War II of Congress affirmatively terminating a president’s Section 232 tariffs. If it fails, the tariffs will remain in place indefinitely, awaiting either executive action or another legislative attempt.
What Comes Next
For businesses affected by the tariffs, the House vote offers a measure of hope tempered by experience.
“We’ve been here before,” said Michael McGowan, a spokesman for the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association. “Bills get introduced, hearings get scheduled, and nothing changes. This time feels different because it actually passed.”
McGowan said his members are not waiting for Washington. “They’ve spent six years figuring out how to operate in this environment. They’ll keep doing that until someone tells them they don’t have to.”
The Senate has not yet scheduled consideration of the measure.
