How serious are congressional Republicans about blocking Trump's Mexico tariffs?


Senate Republicans emerged from a meeting with two Trump administration officials on Tuesday frustrated about President Trump's looming tariffs on all Mexican imports and threatening to block them, for real this time. A few hours earlier in London, Trump had said it would be "foolish" of Republicans to block his tariffs, set to take effect next week, but several GOP senators said they have the votes to not only thwart them but also overcome an expected veto.
Senate Republicans were also frustrated because the two envoys, White House Deputy Counsel Pat Philbin and Assistant Attorney General Steve Engel, wouldn't say how Trump plans to justify imposing tariffs under a law, the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), that doesn't mention tariffs and has never been used to levy them or sanctions an ally like Mexico. And not all protestations were iron-clad calls for defying Trump.
To use the IEEPA, Trump would either have to declare a new "national emergency" or use the one he declared to build new border fencing — Congress voted to block that declaration but didn't have enough votes to override Trump's veto. And even if the Senate mustered a two-thirds majority to thwart the tariffs, more than 50 House Republicans would be needed to override a veto in the House, and that is seen as unlikely.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Still, Republicans are growing weary of Trump's erratic and unilateral use of tariffs, especially for an unrelated issue like immigration. Trump "is trying to use tariffs to solve every problem but HIV and climate change," Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) complained in the meeting, Politico reports. "A lot of Republican members of the Senate are tariff weary," said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). "It's like, anything but tariffs." Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), whose state would be the hardest hit by the import tax, said, "We're holding a gun to our own heads." The GOP is hoping Trump and Mexico work this out first.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku medium: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published