World
Trump eases Canada tariffs as Collins fights for Maine Senate seat
President Trump has removed tariffs on certain Canadian products ahead of a closely contested Senate race in Maine between Republican incumbent Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson.
On Friday, the Trump administration exempted several Canadian products from its tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports. According to reports, the exemptions apply to nine agricultural products and items including plywood sheets, packing crates, paper, plastic, machinery and seaweed products. The White House stated the move was to "better serve the public interest." Senator Susan Collins announced that the exemptions would particularly benefit Maine's rural and coastal economy, including its blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed industries.
The timing of the tariff relief coincides with Collins' difficult re-election campaign in Maine. Collins, a five-term Republican senator, is facing Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee seeking to flip what has been a competitive Senate seat. Multiple sources characterize the race as tight and critical to whether Democrats can gain control of Congress.
Beyond Maine, Democratic campaign activity has intensified elsewhere. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York held a town hall in Portland, Maine on Thursday with Jackson, where she campaigned for him and criticized Collins. In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola is running to represent the state in the Senate, visiting interior communities where the cost of living has driven high prices for basic goods. In Minnesota, the typically Democratic Senate race is reportedly tightening.
The Trump administration's tariff adjustment drew mixed reactions. One account indicates that after Collins announced Canada was dropping certain tariffs, the White House later clarified it was "replacing" the ones removed from the list rather than simply removing them. Collins herself has been touting her successful lobbying effort against the Canadian tariffs as part of her campaign messaging.
In Montana, Democratic support for Senate candidates took an unexpected turn. Pete Buttigieg endorsed independent candidate Seth Bodnar over the Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead. Bodnar indicated he would not caucus with Democrats if elected.
Collins condemned what she called a "freak" advertisement attacking Jackson's family that emerged during the campaign. Democrats have made Trump's tariffs and their economic impact a central issue in their strategy to win competitive Senate races across multiple states.