Trump seeks to boost Susan Collins with Canadian tariff rollback

President Donald Trump this week rolled back select tariffs on Canada, marking a strategic decision that could boost incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in a tight midterm election race just days before Maine’s voters head to the polls.Collins, embroiled in a fiercely competitive battle against Democrat Troy Jackson, has long pressed Trump for release from the tariffs, as her opponent seeks to tie her to what he has described as disastrous economic policies for Maine.On Friday, the senator said she had “secured” tariff exemptions for the state, with the Trump administration moving to lift some of its 50% tariffs on Canadian goods it placed on Ottawa this year. Collins said the tariff exemptions would apply to products crucial to Maine’s agricultural industries, including blueberry, potato, apple, and seaweed producers. “In my repeated conversations with Ambassador Greer, Secretary Lutnick, and other senior Administration officials, I have asked for tariff relief for these important products and I will continue working directly with Administration officials to seek additional relief and encourage a broader trade agreement with Canada, our neighbor, ally, and largest trading partner,” the Republican senator wrote in a statement to X, referencing U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.The White House said the tariffs would be lifted on Oct. 30 on products including packing crates, boxes, “plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery and refrigeration equipment.” New tariffs would be introduced on other items such as carpets and “waste products,” according to officials.Collins noted that “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.”In a fact sheet on the latest action, the White House said the latest action reflects Trump’s continued efforts “to defend American workers and ensure fair trade, offsetting the burden and disadvantage on U.S. commerce from Canada’s discriminatory treatment.”Trump put a stream of tariffs on Canada after the country withdrew from trade negotiations in August. Ottawa promptly retaliated with reciprocal tariffs against the U.S.Speaking on the president’s new tariff exemptions Friday, Canada’s internal trade minister Dominic LeBlanc said: “While we assess these latest steps, Canada stands ready to work constructively and in good faith towards a more mutually beneficial trading relationship that respects Canada’s interests.”While Collins sought to use the announcement to boost her campaign, her rival in the tight Senate race sought to downplay the news.ALASKA BALLOT SITUATION PUTS THREE REPUBLICANS AGAINST ONE DEMOCRAT IN TWO STATEWIDE RACES“We deserve a Senator who stands up to Trump—not one who rubber-stamps his agenda and begs for relief from the chaos she helped create,” Jackson said.The Maine Senate race is one of the most competitive nationwide. Election forecasters indicate the Collins-Jackson race is a toss-up, with both at 49% in recent polls.