Understanding Alaska's New Official Relationship With Canada: Sullivan, Begich Support Tariffs & Murkowski Doesn't

Commercial license plate from Canada. (Wikipedia) 

As U.S. House votes to end Canadian tariffs, Alaska’s Begich seeks to extend them 

FROM THE ALASKA BEACON     BY: JAMES BROOKS- FEBRUARY 13, 2026  

 U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, R-Alaska, speaks at the Resource Development for Alaska annual membership luncheon on June 18, 2025. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) 

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 219-211 on Wednesday to end President Donald Trump’s national emergency at the Canadian border and end tariffs on Canadian imports. 

House Joint Resolution 72 goes to the Senate, where lawmakers have already approved a separate measure that sought to end the markup on Canadian goods. 

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted to end the Canadian tariffs; Sen. Dan Sullivan voted to extend them.

Trump is expected to veto the tariff-ending legislation if it reaches his desk, making the action largely symbolic, but the votes in the House and Senate offered a test for House Republicans’ willingness to stand with Trump or with Americans calling for an end to the tariffs. 

Wednesday’s vote passed the House because six Republicans broke ranks with their party and joined Democrats in advancing the measure.

Alaska’s lone member of the House, Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, stuck with Republican leaders and voted against ending the tariffs.

Asked about his vote, his office provided a written statement saying that he believes the tariffs help Alaskans.

“My priority is ensuring that Alaska’s fishermen, energy producers, and manufacturers are not disadvantaged in international trade negotiations. Like any tool in trade policy, tariffs are most effective when used strategically to strengthen domestic industries and secure a level playing field for our producers,” the statement said.

The statement also noted that the U.S. trade deficit “dropped from a record $136.4 billion to less than half that level” and repeated statistics that Trump has used to promote his tariffs overall.

The statistics in the statement compare the size of the trade deficit in January 2025, when importers were stocking up in anticipation of tariffs, to October 2025, when the tariffs were in full effect, dampening imports.

“In October alone, the trade deficit shrank to $29.4 billion, the narrowest gap since June 2009 and a 39% decrease from September’s $48.1 billion, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Imports fell by 3.2% while exports rose 2.6%, demonstrating that American producers gained ground when trade policy prioritized leverage and reciprocity,” the statement said.

Figures for November 2025, released on Jan. 29, show the trade deficit rose to $56.8 billion. December 2025 figures are expected on Feb. 19.

Canada-specific figures show that between February 2025 and November 2025, American exports to Canada have exceeded imports from Canada in all but one month, reversing long-term trends.

Overall, America accounted for 68% of Canada’s total exports in November 2025, down from 76% in November 2024.