Canada plans tariffs of its own Tuesday; Collins calls new duties ‘a mistake’
President Donald Trump’s tariff dispute with Canada is widening as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
Control of the U.S. Senate in 2026 hinges on states along the U.S.-Canada border. The tariff dispute complicates Republican efforts to address voters’ economic concerns.
The dispute flared over the weekend after negotiations broke down, according to the Associated Press. Trump responded by raising tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian imports.
Canada plans to announce tariffs of its own on Tuesday.
According to the Associated Press, the dispute is escalating and could lead to higher prices and scrambled supply chains for Americans already aggravated at Trump’s management of the economy.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is one of Democrats’ top targets this year.
While campaigning Monday, Collins said, “Imposing new tariffs on Canada is a mistake.”
She warned that fallout from Trump’s approach would hurt U.S. businesses and consumers. Collins pointed to Maine lobsters, blueberries, lumber and other products that end up in Canadian markets.