House Republicans Block Vote on Tariff Hike for Brazil
House Republicans stopped an effort to end the 40% additional tariffs on some Brazilian imports in an evening vote Sept. 15, though two Republicans voted with Democrats. Democrats, led by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., sought to force a vote on the matter through a discharge petition, which can force a vote on a matter the House leadership does not want to take up. The effort came up short by a margin of 200-198.
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One of the Republicans who supported having a vote, Rep. Don Bacon, wrote on X, "Article One of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to determine tariffs. The President has to work with Congress on tariffs. Further, tariffs are a tax on the American consumer."
House Ways and Means Committee ranking member Richard Neal, D-Mass., issued a statement after the vote that said, "Prices on beef are up 13 percent from just a year ago, and coffee costs over 20 percent more -- two key imports from Brazil. You wouldn’t know it from how Republicans buried their heads in the sand tonight and voted against lowering costs and standing up for democracy. How much longer are Americans supposed to feel the weight of this economic sabotage before Republicans say enough is enough? Tonight was an opportunity to reassert their authority, stand up for their constituents, uplift American values, and end Trump’s tariffs with Brazil. Once again, they refused."