VideoU.S.–Canada
American congressman Jamie Raskin sets 100-day goal to end Canada's tariffs
Every tariff now hitting Canada rests on laws Congress wrote, which could give a new Democratic majority real leverage to end them.
Summary
Jamie Raskin, a Maryland congressman reelected to his sixth term, told CBC on Capitol Hill that Congress never imposed the 50% tariffs on Canada. He wants the new Congress to say so within its first 100 days. Canadian steel and aluminum pay 50% at the American border, and cars pay 25%.
The video traces three votes against the Canada tariffs. The Senate voted 51–48 in April 2025 and 50–46 in October 2025, and the House passed its resolution 219–211 in February 2026, but none became law. On February 20th, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that emergency powers cannot be used for tariffs, and the administration moved the tariffs under other trade laws, including Section 232, Section 301 and the Tariff Act of 1930.
The video argues that these remaining powers come from laws Congress wrote and can amend, so Raskin is effectively calling in the loan. For Canada, Ottawa no longer has to sign something unfair just to beat a Washington deadline. Canada and China extended their canola and steel access arrangement to late 2028, and Prime Minister Mark Carney attends four summits in eight days. Watch the January 1st auto hike and a Carney and Trump meeting in China.
Key points
- Canadian steel and aluminum face 50% tariffs at the U.S. border; Canadian cars face 25%, with a promised 50% on January 1st, 2027.
- The Senate voted 51–48 in April 2025 and 50–46 in October 2025 to end the Canada tariff emergency.
- The House passed its resolution 219–211 on February 11th, 2026, with six Republicans defying Trump.
- The Supreme Court ruled on February 20th, 2026 that emergency powers cannot be used for tariffs.
- Tariffs cost American families nearly $1,700 in a single year; U.S. exports to Canada fell more than 21%, and Canadian tourism was down 30%.
- Canada and China extended their canola and steel access arrangement to late 2028.
Questions answered
Can Congress end the Canada tariffs?
The video says Raskin cannot end them alone, since the new Congress is not sworn in until January and any bill can be vetoed. However, the remaining tariff powers come from laws Congress wrote and can amend, so Congress still holds leverage.
Why did the Supreme Court ruling matter for Canada's tariffs?
On February 20th, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that emergency powers cannot be used for tariffs. The video says that sidelined the fentanyl emergency, but the administration then used other trade laws, including Section 232, Section 301 and the Tariff Act of 1930, to keep tariffs in place.
What does Canada gain from the current situation?
The video says Canada gains time and a second route to markets. Ottawa no longer has to accept an unfair deal just to meet a Washington deadline, and Canada and China extended their canola and steel access arrangement to late 2028. The host argues Canada should keep building markets.
Prepared by the CanadaNext Editor with AI assistance from public reporting and CanadaNext's own videos. Sources are linked. How we work