Eric Ham: What finally prompted some Republicans in Congress to distance themselves from Trump

This analysis by Eric Ham examines a rare rebuke by some congressional Republicans, who joined Democrats in passing a resolution to repeal national emergency tariffs on Canada,.

In a rare rebuke, GOP congress members sided with Democrats to pass a resolution calling for the repeal of the White House’s national emergency tariffs enacted on Canada.

After a year of Donald Trump’s grand designs of a U.S. takeover of Canada, lawmakers—including members loyal to the president—finally recognize the danger posed to one of America’s most stalwart allies and neighbour.

From the latest outburst threatening to force a shutdown of the newly constructed Gordie Howe International Bridge, to the incessant mischaracterizations of U.S.-Canada trade relations, Washington is finally waking from its year-long stupor.

Acutely aware of the fulmination emanating from the Trump administration’s trade policies and the stinging impact, not just on a century’s-old friendship but the dark pall cast over America’s own economy, Republicans—left with no choice—are finally pushing back.

GOP lawmaker Don Bacon told the press before Wednesday’s vote: “We have a trade agreement, and I think they’ve been a good ally, and I think they’ve been unfairly attacked by the administration, and so I’m going to oppose it – I’m going to oppose the tariffs.”