House votes 219-211 to terminate Canada tariffs despite Trump threats

The House voted 219-211 on Feb. 11, 2026 to pass H.J. Res. 72, a joint resolution to terminate the national emergency Trump declared in February 2025 to impose 25% tariffs on Canada. Six Republicans crossed the aisle to join 213 Democrats. Only one Democrat, Rep. JGJared Golden of 🦞Maine, voted against the measure. The resolution was introduced by Rep. GMGregory Meeks (D-NY) and is considered a rare bipartisan rebuke of Trump's signature trade policy.

Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in February 2025, declaring that Canada's failure to address cross-border fentanyl trafficking created an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security. The IEEPA gives presidents emergency powers but doesn't expressly authorize tariffs. The law includes a provision allowing Congress to terminate national emergencies through joint resolutions that can't be filibustered and require only simple majorities.

Trump threatened political retribution before the vote. He posted on Truth Social: Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries. He added: TARIFFS have given us Economic and National Security, and no Republican should be responsible for destroying this privilege. The threats came as the House was actively voting on the resolution.

The six Republicans who voted for termination were TMThomas Massie of 🐴Kentucky, KKKevin Kiley of 🌴California, Don Bacon of 🌽Nebraska, Dan Newhouse of 🌲Washington, Jeff Hurd of 🏔️Colorado, and Blake Moore of 🏜️Utah. These members represent swing districts where tariffs are deeply unpopular. Three of them, Kiley, Massie, and Bacon, also voted on Feb. 10 with Democrats to sink a procedural vote that would have barred lawmakers from overturning Trump's tariffs through July.

The resolution now moves to the Senate for consideration. Because it's a joint resolution terminating a national emergency under IEEPA, it enjoys privileged status and can't be filibustered. It needs only a simple majority to pass. Last April, the Senate passed a similar resolution revoking Trump's national emergency designation 51-48. Republican Senators Susan Collins of 🦞Maine, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul of 🐴Kentucky, and Lisa Murkowski of 🐻Alaska joined all 47 Democrats.

Even if the Senate passes the resolution and sends it to Trump's desk, he will almost certainly veto it. Overriding a presidential veto requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate. The 219-211 vote in the House fell far short of the 290 votes needed for override. The resolution's passage is therefore largely symbolic, though it demonstrates growing Republican unease with Trump's tariff policies ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.

Rep. GMGregory Meeks challenged Republicans before the vote: Today's vote is simple, very simple. Will you vote to lower the cost of living for the American family or will you keep prices high out of loyalty to one person, Donald J Trump? The vote comes as all House members prepare for midterm elections. Primaries begin in March, and the general election unfolds in November. Trump believes tariffs force U.S. trade partners to the negotiating table, but opponents argue they raise consumer prices.