The U.S. House of Representatives (lower house) of Congress approved by a narrow majority a measure of disapproval against the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Canada – an unusual blow to the head of state and the Republican Party leadership in the Republican-dominated Chamber, Reuters reported.
Lawmakers voted 219 to 211 in favor of a resolution to end Trump's use of a national emergency as a basis for imposing punitive trade measures on Canadian goods, with six Republicans joining all but one Democrats.
The vote has important, if largely symbolic, significance in the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a slim majority – 218 to 214 seats.
The resolution also has a significant chance of being approved in the Senate, which has already voted twice to block Trump's attempts to impose tariffs on Canada, despite the Republicans having a larger majority there.
However, the measure is not expected to take effect, as a two-thirds majority in both chambers is needed to overcome an expected presidential veto.
Most Republicans are reluctant to oppose the White House's policies, Reuters notes.