[By Guancha Observer Network, Wang Kaiwen] On April 2nd local time, while Trump was instigating an "epic" trade war, the US Senate passed a resolution to cancel the 25% tariff on Canadian goods with a vote of 51 to 48.

Currently, the Republican Party holds the majority in the Senate, and the passage of this resolution benefited from four Republican congressmen defecting, including Mitch McConnell, who once served as the Senate Republican leader.

A few hours before the vote, Trump, who had anticipated the decision of the four individuals on his self-created social platform "Truth Social," named these Republicans, urging them to change their minds while harshly criticizing the four as "difficult" and "disloyal," claiming they were suffering from the "blind opposition Trump Disorder Syndrome."

From left to right: Republican Senators Rand Paul, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitch McConnell. Media source.

This resolution was initiated by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and others, aiming to terminate the national emergency declared by Trump previously. Trump linked this emergency with fentanyl drugs illegally imported from Canada and other countries, using it as grounds to impose a 25% high tariff on Canadian goods.

The Hill reported that the passage of this resolution reflects the opinion of the Senate but does not have legal effect. The Republican Senate leader opposing the resolution stated that the resolution will not be voted on in the House of Representatives controlled by Republicans, and they expect it will never reach President Trump's desk.

Nevertheless, the report pointed out that for Trump, who announced a new round of tariffs on the same day, this voting result was undoubtedly an embarrassing setback.

The four Republican senators who cast a yes vote were: Mitch McConnell, former Republican Senate leader and Kentucky federal senator; Rand Paul, Kentucky federal senator; Susan Collins, Maine federal senator; and Lisa Murkowski, Alaska federal senator. Among them, Collins and Murkowski are the two most senior female Republican senators, considered the most moderate Republicans in the Senate. Rand Paul, also from Kentucky, is the son of Ron Paul, who ran in the 2008 presidential election.

After the vote, Collins told the media that she was seriously concerned about Trump's decision to impose high tariffs on allies like Canada.

"While Americans tighten their belts, we should avoid adopting policies that exacerbate suffering," McConnell said in a statement on February 2nd.

Rand Paul warned that tariffs bring political destruction: "When McKinley (US Representative and 25th US President, promoter of the McKinley Tariff Act) imposed tariffs in 1890, they lost 50% of their seats; when the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act began to be implemented in the 1930s, we lost control of the House and the Senate for sixty years. Therefore, this is not only economically disadvantageous but also politically disadvantageous."

Screenshot from Trump's "Truth Social" account.

Previously, it was already expected that the above-mentioned Republican senators would defect. In response, Trump posted on "Truth Social" naming the four individuals a few hours before the vote:

"Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, Susan Collins from Maine, Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, and Rand Paul from Kentucky as well, hope you can change your stance, join the Republican ranks, and fight against the Democrats' crazy and overt push to avoid punishing Canada for selling large quantities of fentanyl to our country... They are betting on American lives."

"The Senate bill is just a trick by the Democrats to expose the weaknesses of certain Republicans, namely these four individuals. Because it will not make any progress, the House will never approve it, and I, as your president, will never sign it," Trump wrote.

"Besides having 'blind opposition Trump Disorder Syndrome' (TDS), what else is wrong with them?" Trump urged the residents of Kentucky, Alaska, and Maine to contact these congressmen to keep them aligned with Republican values and principles.

Finally, Trump didn't forget to add, "They (the four congressmen) have always been very difficult and disloyal to the diligent Majority Leader John Thune and the Republican Party. It's incredible."

The measures imposing a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico came into effect on March 4th local time. However, two days later, Trump signed an executive order, announcing tax exemptions for goods meeting the USMCA preferential conditions until April 2nd.

On April 2nd local time, Trump signed two executive orders regarding so-called "reciprocal tariffs" at the White House, announcing a 10% "minimum benchmark tariff" for trading partners and higher tariffs for certain trading partners.

Canada was not included in the list of targets for Trump's announced tariff measures that day. However, the previous policies imposing a 25% tariff on steel, aluminum, and some Canadian goods, a 10% tariff on Canadian energy products, and the 25% tariff on all imported vehicles that took effect from April 3rd remain valid. Canadian Prime Minister Carney stated on the 2nd that countermeasures would be taken against US tariffs.

This article is an exclusive piece by Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7489022143607456266/

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