Senate fails to block Trump’s global tariffs

WASHINGTON - The Senate failed on Wednesday to block President Donald Trump’s global tariffs.

The vote ended in a tie of 49-49.

The resolution, brought by Democrats, forced a vote under a statute that allowed them to try to terminate the emergency that Trump declared in order to put the tariffs in place. 

Some Republicans voted in favor of the resolution 

Dig deeper:

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced the resolution to end Trump's "national emergency" as a "privileged" one – meaning it would require a vote regardless of the upper chamber being in Republican hands. The House, however, has signaled it is not inclined to pursue the same.

There were several Republicans who signaled beforehand they favored halting the relatively new levies.

Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Rand Paul, R-Ky., split from the rest of the GOP and sought to end the national emergency that backs the tariffs. Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., did not vote. 

Tariffs put on nearly all US trade partners

The backstory:

Trump announced the far-reaching tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners on April 2 and then reversed himself a few days later after a market meltdown, suspending the import taxes for 90 days. 

Amid the uncertainty for both U.S. consumers and businesses, the Commerce Department said Wednesday that the U.S. economy shrank 0.3% from January through March, the first drop in three years.

Trump has tried to reassure voters that his tariffs will not provoke a recession as his administration has focused on China, raising tariffs on Chinese goods to 145% even as he paused the others. He told his Cabinet Wednesday morning that his tariffs meant China was "having tremendous difficulty because their factories are not doing business."

What they're saying:

Trump said the U.S. does not really need imports from the world’s dominant manufacturer. "Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls," he said. "So maybe the two dolls will cost a couple bucks more than they would normally."