MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee and co-lead of legislation to repeal President Trump’s tariffs on Canada, today traveled to Montréal and met with trade officials, manufacturers and business owners, tourism industry leaders, and workers hurt by the Trump Administration’s trade war with Canada and attacks on the U.S.-Canadian relationship. 

While in Québec, Senator Welch reaffirmed his commitment to end the trade war and discussed how the president’s 50% tariffs and import bans have hurt consumers and communities on both sides of the Vermont-Québec border. 

“Vermont and Canada are more than friends—we are connected by families and communities, businesses and manufacturers, and by critically important and longstanding diplomatic relationships. That’s all under threat by President Trump and his enablers in this Republican-controlled Congress. This trade war and the White House’s attacks against Canada are hurting Vermonters and Canadians alike—it must stop and it must stop now,” said Senator Welch. “I won’t give up in the fight to repeal President Trump’s punitive and reckless tariffs, and will do everything in my power to repair the damage done to relations between our two countries.” 

In Montréal, Senator Welch met with Québec’s new Chief Trade Negotiator. The Senator also visited with businesses and manufacturers hurt by tariffs and the escalating trade war. He provided remarks at an event hosted by the Eurasia Group, which convened business leaders, as well as trade and foreign policy experts, to discuss the frayed U.S.-Canada relationship. In the afternoon, Senator Welch spoke with tourism industry leaders from Canada and Vermont at an event hosted by Brand USA, a public-private partnership to increase tourism in Vermont and the United States. Brand USA, or the Corporation for Travel Promotion, was established following the passage of the bipartisan Travel Promotion Act of 2009, which Welch cosponsored as a member of the House of Representatives. Senator Welch led the reauthorization of the bill in 2019. 

Senator Welch is a champion of Vermont small businesses, farmers, and consumers—he is an outspoken voice against the president’s reckless trade policies and has led and cosponsored several bills to repeal the administration’s tariffs and reassert Congress’ constitutional trade authorities. Alongside Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Senator Welch is the lead sponsor of the Banning Antiquated Duties and Delivering Equitable American Levies (BAD DEAL) Act, which would repeal President Trump’s reckless tariffs on Canada and reclaim Congress’ constitutional role in setting our trade policy. Last month, Senator Welch pushed for passage of the BAD DEAL Act on the Senate floor but was blocked by Republicans. 

In addition to the BAD DEAL Act, Senator Welch cosponsors the bipartisan Trade Review Act, which seeks to restore Congress’ constitutional role in trade policy. He also led the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada under International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) authorities. 

Senator Welch has held events and roundtables in Jay, Williston, Stowe, Newport, St. Albans, Manchester, Vermont, and virtually to hear concerns and first-hand stories from Vermont and Canadian businesses impacted by the trade war.  

Senator Welch is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade and tariff policies. 

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