WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senators from Vermont and members of the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) urging him to immediately convene a full Committee hearing on President Trump’s reckless trade war with Canada, which has hurt Vermont businesses, farmers, and families and threatened Vermont’s economy.  

“As you know, Canada is the largest trading partner for 34 states, including Idaho, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, South Dakota, and Vermont. Manufacturers rely on aluminum imports from Canada to keep factories running; the construction industry relies on steel and lumber imports to build new homes. Farmers and ranchers in Idaho import Canadian fertilizers and animal feed to fuel their farms that feed America. Vermont’s maple syrup producers rely on Canadian machinery in their sugarhouses and Canadian retailers to ship their product. These tariffs are coming at a time when input costs like fertilizer and diesel fuel are already high across industries,” the Senators wrote to Chair Crapo. 

The Senators continued: “The escalating trade war with Canada is causing unnecessary economic pain for Americans across the country and has fractured one of our country’s longest standing and most reliable bilateral relationships. Over the course of this administration, we in Congress have ceded our constitutional tariff authority to the executive. One important step in reasserting our authority is to conduct meaningful oversight of the Administration’s trade policies. The Senate Finance Committee has an important role to play in doing so. We appreciate your attention to this serious matter.”

Read the full letter below and download it here: 

Chair Crapo, 

As Chair of the Senate Committee with jurisdiction over U.S. trade policy, we respectfully request that you convene a hearing during the September work period to examine President Trump’s recent trade actions toward Canada. 

As you know, Canada is the largest trading partner for 34 states, including Idaho, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, South Dakota, and Vermont. Manufacturers rely on aluminum imports from Canada to keep factories running; the construction industry relies on steel and lumber imports to build new homes. Farmers and ranchers in Idaho import Canadian fertilizers and animal feed to fuel their farms that feed America. Vermont’s maple syrup producers rely on Canadian machinery in their sugarhouses and Canadian retailers to ship their product. These tariffs are coming at a time when input costs like fertilizer and diesel fuel are already high across industries. 

In February 2025, President Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs of up to 25% on Canadian goods. After the Supreme Court ruled that these tariffs were not allowed under IEEPA in February 2026, President Trump imposed temporary 10% tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 for the maximum allowable period of 150 days. 

Upon expiration of these tariffs in July 2026, President Trump imposed another tariff on Canadian goods under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Last month, President Trump invoked Section 338 of the Trade Act of 1930 to impose 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. This week, President Trump announced import bans on most Canadian alcoholic beverages, along with some dairy products and motorcycles. President Trump has also imposed tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 on many imports from Canada, including steel, aluminum, passenger vehicles, auto parts, and lumber. 

The escalating trade war with Canada is causing unnecessary economic pain for Americans across the country and has fractured one of our country’s longest standing and most reliable bilateral relationships. 

Over the course of this administration, we in Congress have ceded our constitutional tariff authority to the executive. One important step in reasserting our authority is to conduct meaningful oversight of the Administration’s trade policies. The Senate Finance Committee has an important role to play in doing so. We appreciate your attention to this serious matter. 

Sincerely, 

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