By David Morgan
WASHINGTON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - A narrowly divided U.S. House of Representatives rejected on Tuesday a bid by Republican leaders to block legislative challenges to President Donald Trump's tariffs, a move that could allow Democrats to try to undo U.S. tariffs on Canada.
Lawmakers voted 217-214 to derail the plan to bar tariff challenges through July 31, with three Republicans joining 214 Democrats in opposition. The prohibition was included in a measure intended to open debate on three unrelated bills.
"I don't like putting the important work of the House on pause, but Congress needs to be able to debate on tariffs," said Representative Don Bacon, one of the Republicans who rejected the ban.
"Tariffs have been a 'net negative' for the economy and are a significant tax that American consumers, manufacturers, and farmers are paying," the Nebraska lawmaker said on X.
The result presents a major challenge for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who cannot afford to lose more than one vote from his 218-214 Republican majority on any measure opposed by Democrats.
Advertisement
Democrats hope to force a House vote as early as Wednesday to terminate Trump's use of a national emergency to put punitive trade measures on Canadian goods. They also have resolutions to overturn Trump's tariffs on Mexico and other countries.
Earlier in the day, Johnson told reporters that he expected the measure to pass the House, calling it necessary in view of an expected Supreme Court ruling on the legality of the tariffs.
House Republicans first adopted a rule barring tariff challenges last March and later extended it through January.
But the rule expired in the face of opposition from Republicans, who voiced concern over the costs to American families and U.S. companies that rely on international trade.
Last month, the Yale Budget Lab said the annual median cost of tariffs stands at around $1,400 for each U.S. household.
The nonpartisan Tax Foundation estimated the cost at $1,000 per household in 2025, rising to $1,300 this year, in a report last week.
(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
