¶ Overview
Kean believed it was “very important” for Trump to have done tariffs the way that he has and defended the use of tariffs as a “great negotiating tool.”
Then, he voted four times to protect the tariffs, including in April 2025 when he was the deciding vote to protect them, dooming New Jersey families who relied on him to a trade war and rising prices. Tariffs are contributing to higher food prices and causing North Jersey businesses to raise prices, and were described by one New Jersey entrepreneur as “business-busting.”
¶ Kean Was The Deciding Vote To Protect Trump’s Tariffs Even Though New Jersey Was Paying The Price
¶ Kean Repeatedly Voted to Protect Trump’s Tariffs
¶ September 2025: Kean Voted To Protect Trump’s Tariffs
2025: Kean Effectively Voted For A Procedural Trick To Block Votes On The Reversal Of Trump’s Tariffs Through March 2026. In September 2025, Kean voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the resolution [that] would allow for the tolling (the pausing of counting) of days for resolutions of inquiry from Sept. 30, 2025 through March 31, 2026. It also would provide that each day during the period from April 9, 2025, through March 31, 2026. would not constitute a calendar day for the purposes of section 202 of the National Emergencies Act with respect to a joint resolution to terminate President Donald Trump's April 2, 2025 executive order declaring a national emergency regarding tariffs on imported goods. The resolution also would provide that during the period for March 11, 2025 through March 31, 2026, would not constitute a calendar day for purposes of section 202 of the National Emergencies Act with respect to a joint resolution terminating a national emergency executive order declared by President Trump on Feb. 1, 2025. Such an executive order concerned tariffs on many Canadian and Mexican imports and Chinese goods. The resolution also would provide that the provisions of section 202 of the National Emergencies Act would not apply through March 31, 2026 to a joint resolution terminating the national emergency.” The vote was on the rule. The House agreed to the rule by a vote of 213 to 211. [House Vote 268, 9/16/25; Congressional Quarterly, 9/16/25; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 707; Congressional Actions, H.Con. Res. 14]
- Support Was Won From GOP Holdouts Through A Promise Of A Vote Later In The Week To Shorten The Block To End In January Rather Than March. According to Politico, “GOP leaders flipped several of the Republican holdouts with a promise to add language shortening the block on tariff disapproval votes to a forthcoming measure set for approval later in the week, per two Republicans with direct knowledge of the agreement. The expiration date on the block will be reset from March 31 to the end of January, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said Tuesday. It’s likely the Supreme Court will have ruled on a challenge to Trump’s tariff-declaring powers by then.” [Politico, 9/16/25]
¶ April 2025: Kean Cast The Deciding Vote To Protect Trump’s Tariffs
2025: Kean Cast The Deciding Vote For A Procedural Trick To Block Votes On The Reversal Of Trump’s Tariffs Through September 2025. In April 2025, Kean voted for, “adoption of the rule (H Res 313) that would provide for floor consideration of the Senate amendment to the fiscal 2025 budget resolution (H Con Res 14). The rule would provide up to one hour of debate on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the measure. It also would block the expedited consideration of joint resolutions terminating President Donald Trump’s tariff actions under the April 2 executive order by providing that each day during the period from April 9, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2025, will not constitute a calendar day under the federal law pertaining to terminating national emergencies.” The vote was on the rule. The underlying legislation was the FY 2025 budget resolution. The House agreed to the rule by a vote of 216 to 215. [House Vote 94, 4/9/25; Congressional Quarterly, 4/9/25; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 313; Congressional Actions, H.Con. Res. 14]
- Speaker Johnson Backed The Move, Claiming Trump Has “Executive Authority” And That The Tariffs Are “In The Interest Of The American People.” According to ABC News, “House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., defended the move, telling reporters, ‘I've made it very clear I think the president has executive authority. It's an appropriate level of authority to deal with the unfair trade practices. That's part of the role of the president is to negotiate with other countries.’ Johnson said Trump told him Tuesday night that ‘there are almost 70 countries that are [in] some stage in negotiation of more fair-trade agreement agreements with the United States. I think that is in the interest of the American people. I think that is an ‘America First’ policy that will be effective, and so we have to give them the space to do it.’” [ABC News, 4/9/25]
- The Vote Was The Second Use Of The Procedural Tactic To Block Votes On The Tariffs, The First Use Of It Being In March. According to ABC News, “House Democrats, led by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., moved to force a vote on Tuesday on terminating the national emergency authority and blocking Trump's sweeping tariffs. Now, that vote is unlikely to occur. This is the second time Johnson has moved to stop the legislative calendar to prevent votes on Trump's authority on tariffs. Under House rules, these votes would typically come up within 15 calendar days but now will not if the ‘rule’ passes during the vote series Wednesday afternoon.” [ABC News, 4/9/25]
¶ If One “Aye” Vote Had Switched To A “No” On House Vote 94 The Measure Would Have Failed Instead Of Passing
The Measure Considered In House Vote 94 Passed By A Vote Of 216 “Ayes” To 215 “Nos,” Which Meant If One Aye Vote Had Switched To A No Vote The Measure Would Have Failed.
[House Vote 94, 4/9/25; Congressional Quarterly, 4/9/25; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 313; Congressional Actions, H.Con. Res. 14]
¶ April 2025: Kean Voted To Protect Trump’s Tariffs
2025: Kean Effectively Voted For A Procedural Trick To Block Votes On The Reversal Of Trump’s Tariffs Through September 2025. In April 2025, Kean voted for, “motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 313) that would providing for floor consideration of the Senate amendment to the fiscal 2025 budget resolution (H Con Res 14). The rule would provide up to one hour of debate on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the measure. It also would block the expedited consideration of joint resolutions terminating President Donald Trump’s tariff actions under the April 2 executive order by providing that each day during the period from April 9, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2025, will not constitute a calendar day under the federal law pertaining to terminating national emergencies.” The vote was on the previous question. The House agreed to the rule by a vote of 217 to 212. [House Vote 93, 4/9/25; Congressional Quarterly, 4/9/25; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 313]
¶ March 2025: Kean Voted To Protect Trump’s Tariffs
2025: Kean Voted For A Procedural Trick To Block Votes On The Reversal Of Trump’s Tariffs. In March 2025, Kean voted for, “the bill that would provide for Congressional disapproval of, and nullify, a December 2024 IRS rule related to gross proceeds reporting by brokers involved in digital asset sales. The rule imposed reporting requirements, beginning in 2027, on non-custodial brokers who participate in the decentralized digital asset market. It also required brokers to file information returns and provide payee statements reporting gross proceeds from certain digital asset sales and transactions.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 292 to 132. [House Vote 71, 3/11/25; Congressional Quarterly, 3/11/25; Congressional Actions, H.J. Res. 25]
- The Bill Effectively Blocked The House From Voting To Reverse Trump’s Tariffs On Mexico, Canada, And China For The Next Year. According to the New York Times, “Republican leaders on Tuesday slipped language into a procedural measure that would prevent any resolution to end the tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China from receiving a vote this year. It passed on party lines as part of a resolution that cleared the way for a vote later Tuesday on a government spending bill needed to prevent a shutdown at the end of the week.” [New York Times, 3/11/25]
- The Bill Nullified A Law That Would Allow The House And Senate To End A Disaster Declared By The President. According to the New York Times, “In this case, Republican leaders did so using a particularly unusual contortion: They essentially declared the rest of the year one long day, nullifying a law that allows the House and Senate to jointly put an end to a disaster declared by the president.” [New York Times, 3/11/25]
- The National Emergencies Act Required Consideration Of Resolutions Ending A Presidentially Declared Emergency Within Fifteen Calendar Days But Republican Leadership Included A Measure In The Bill Declaring The Rest Of The Year Did Not Constitute A Calendar Day. According to the New York Times, “The national emergency law lays out a fast-track process for Congress to consider a resolution ending a presidential emergency, requiring committee consideration within 15 calendar days after one is introduced and a floor vote within three days after that. But the language House Republicans inserted in their measure on Tuesday declared that, ‘Each day for the remainder of the 119th Congress shall not constitute a calendar day’ for the purposes of the emergency that Mr. Trump declared on Feb. 1.” [New York Times, 3/11/25]
¶ Kean Defended Trump’s Tariffs and Said They Could Be a “Great Negotiating Tool”
Kean On Trump’s Tariffs: “I Think It Was Very Important For Him To Do It The Way He Has Done It.” According to the New Jersey Globe, "One Republican who likely won’t be joining any such legislation, though, is Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield). Kean, who hadn’t previously commented on Trump’s tariff policies, said that ‘the structure [of tariff authority] is right as it is,’ and signaled his approval for Trump’s approach thus far. ‘He’s a great negotiator,’ Kean said. ‘He’s an individual who understands the importance of growing the American economy. It’s always going to be a difficult process when people are going through direct negotiations between countries. I think it was very important for him to do it the way he has done it to make sure we are prioritizing innovation.’" [New Jersey Globe, 4/9/25]
Kean Defended The Use Of Targeted Tariffs As A “Great Negotiating Tool.” According to a tele-town hall hosted by Rep. Tom Kean, Jr., “HOST: Congressman, our next question comes from Jerry in Whitehouse Station. Question is with new tariffs being discussed again, especially those affecting imported goods, how will you protect New Jersey small businesses and port jobs, particularly at Port Newark and Elizabeth from potential fallout on price increases? KEAN: Thank you. Thank you for the question. I support smart, targeted tariffs that defend U.S. industries without endangering our ports, our small businesses, or our supply chains. I have had dialogue with local businesses, with port operators and labor leaders to anticipate the impacts and to craft proactive solutions. I have said previously that the tariff structure is right as it is, as this can be a great negotiating tool. I will also add that a calibrated strategic use, not one that’s sweeping or blanket in nature is a positive approach. I regularly meet with port stakeholders such as union leaders and small business owners, to monitor any kind of effects in real time. My priority is always to protect New Jersey jobs and New Jersey families. Thank you.” [Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. Tele-Town Hall, 7/1/25] (audio)
¶ Trump’s Tariffs Were Expected To Affect “Every Aspect Of New Jersey’s Supply Chain Industry” And One New Jersey Entrepreneur Described Them As “Business-Busting”
HEADLINE: "Many North Jersey Businesses Raised Prices To Offset Cost Of Trump Tariffs, NY Fed Says" [Bergen Record, 6/5/25]
Experts Said Trump’s Tariffs Would Impact “Every Aspect Of New Jersey’s Supply Chain Industry, From The Shipping Companies, Ports And Longshoremen To Truckers And Warehouses.” According to North Jersey, "The global import tariffs that President Donald Trump had threatened — and then paused last week for 90 days — would affect every aspect of New Jersey’s supply chain industry, from the shipping companies, ports and longshoremen to truckers and warehouses, experts say. And New Jersey, an epicenter of major ports, airports, railway and interstate highways, boasts major employment in these sectors. In 2020, transportation, warehousing and storage accounted for 17.4% of all jobs in New Jersey, said a report by the state Labor Department, making it the third-largest sector in the state by employment. Last week, as Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on most of the United States’ trading partners and then paused most of them, markets were rattled." [North Jersey, 4/14/25]
One New Jersey Entrepreneur Said Trump’s Tariffs Were “Literally Business-Busting” And Claimed She Couldn’t Afford To Produce Her Product In The United States. According to CBS News, "A New Jersey entrepreneur who built her company from the ground up is worried about the impact tariffs are going to have on her business. From her basement in Millstone Township, Lisa Lane taught herself how to create a product, manufacture it in China, and sell it exclusively online. […] ‘When we started in 2019, it was about 12% ... And then when Trump was being elected or running for office, we thought maybe 25% - I could still absorb that. But now at 145%? It is literally business-busting,’ Lane said. She looked into manufacturing in the United States. She found that just one part of her product which costs 40 cents when made in China would cost $5 to make in the United States." [CBS News, 5/8/25]
HEADLINE: "Trump's Tariffs Have New Jersey Small Business Owners Worried About Their Bottom Line" [CBS New York, 4/7/25]
HEADLINE: “Prices Shoot Up For Coffee, Clothes And Cars As Trump Tariffs Pound Jersey Shore Business” [Asbury Park Press, 4/9/25]
HEADLINE: “NJ Businesses Rush To Stockpile As Trump Tariffs Push Up Prices” [NJ Spotlight News, 4/24/25]
¶ Kean Even Said The First Six Weeks Of Trump’s Administration Were A Historic Success Amid Market Crashes And Trade Wars
Kean Said The First Six Weeks Of Trump’s Administration Were A “Historic Success” And Claimed The Economy Was “Booming.” According to a press release from Rep. Tom Kean, Jr., "Tonight, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) released the following statement after President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress: ‘President Trump’s address tonight was a bold, optimistic vision for America’s future. In just six weeks, we are seeing historic success - our borders are finally secure, illegal crossings have plummeted, and law enforcement is empowered to keep our communities safe. The economy is booming with over $1.7 trillion in new investments and a resurgence of American manufacturing. On the world stage, America is once again leading with strength - freeing hostages, eliminating terrorists, and pushing for peace. And here at home, President Trump is restoring common sense, protecting fairness in women’s sports, safeguarding children, and eliminating divisive DEI policies in government. His leadership is delivering real results, and we in the House will continue fighting to keep America strong.’ – Congressman Tom Kean, Jr." [Press Release – Rep. Tom Kean, Jr., 3/4/25]