President Trump said Sunday that his trade war with Canada will be over “soon,” as the ongoing dispute continues to create political problems for Republicans heading into the midterms.
Speaking at a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, the president doubled down on his long-held view that Canada “has been ripping off” the United States “for years.”
That argument was the basis for the president’s decision in August to impose 50 percent tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded by matching those levies “dollar for dollar,” and there have been no public signs of a deal between the two countries.
“I had to do it. We’ll have that settled pretty soon,” Trump said Sunday, referring to the trade war.
The president also claimed that Canadian officials “are willing to give us anything” as part of a trade agreement.
Carney’s office was contacted by The Hill for comment.
The stakes could soon climb even higher. Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian imported cars, trucks, auto parts and steel from 25 percent to 50 percent on New Year’s Day.
Carney, for his part, has answered the trade war by strengthening Canada’s alliances with Europe and working to reduce his country’s dependence on the United States.
Back home, the tariffs have become a sticking point for several Republicans locked in tough election battles, some of whom have pushed back against the president’s approach.
Among them is former Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., who is running for Senate in Michigan.
Appearing Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Rogers said the auto tariffs concern him “a little bit,” noting that his state relies heavily on the auto industry.
“We’re going to go back and work through those issues to get some relief to make sure that it’s good for Michigan,” Rogers told host Kristen Welker.
The White House has already shown some flexibility. On Friday, the administration exempted paperboard cartons, plastic boxes, refrigeration equipment and other products from the levies.
That move drew praise from Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who is facing a tough reelection fight of her own.
“Many of our farmers and growers rely on specialized equipment, packaging materials, and other products from Canada that are either unavailable from American suppliers or cannot be replaced without incurring significant expense,” Collins said.
Collins is in a close race with Democrat Troy Jackson.
The exemptions and the president’s latest comments suggest the administration is paying attention to the economic concerns raised in key battleground states, even as Trump continues to defend the tariffs as a necessary response to what he describes as years of unfair treatment by Canada.
For Republicans like Rogers and Collins, the outcome of the dispute could carry real consequences at the ballot box. Both have signaled that relief for industries in their home states remains a top priority.
Whether the trade war ends as quickly as the president predicts remains to be seen. For now, Trump is projecting confidence that a resolution is near, insisting that Canada is ready to make major concessions to reach a deal.
