US Senate Candidates Struggle With Trump's Trade War

As the US Senate election approaches, Republican candidates in northern border states are trying to balance their loyalty to President Donald Trump with appealing to independent voters who have soured on his handling of the economy and trade war.

The economies of Michigan and Maine, which rely heavily on cross-border trade with Canada, are being hit hard by tariffs imposed last month. The US has placed 50% tariffs on some $20 billion of Canadian goods, prompting a retaliatory response from Canada that includes tariffs on $20 billion of US goods.

Senator Susan Collins of Maine, locked in a close race against Democrat Troy Jackson, is breaking with Trump, criticizing the tit-for-tat exchange of tariffs and seeking carveouts for affected industries. In contrast, Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers has criticized Canada and made the case that his closeness to the president will help blunt the impact of the trade war.

According to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll, Americans are about four times as likely to blame the current trade dispute on Washington rather than Ottawa. Only 20% of respondents supported higher tariffs on Canadian goods.