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Mike Rogers Calls For Immediate End To U.S.-Canada Tariff War, Breaking With Donald Trump
Rogers calls for immediate end to U.S.-Canada tariff war. He breaks with Trump on tariffs, urging bipartisan action to lower prices.
10 outlets told this the same way.
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Rogers breaks with Trump
Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers called for an immediate end to the U.S.-Canada tariff dispute, breaking with President Donald Trump on a second major issue ahead of next month’s election.
Rogers released a 30-second ad on Wednesday showing him in a bar with a Labatt beer and saying, “Here in Michigan we know that Canada is not our enemy. We need to end this tariff war now.”
Rogers told reporters in the Oval Office later Wednesday that “As Michigan's senator, I'll bring both parties together to lower your prices. That's job No. 1,” while the ad also showed the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit.
Trump dismissed the apparent disagreement, telling reporters, “Well, I viewed it as though he wanted Canada to make a deal.”
Reuters said Rogers had largely backed Trump’s tariffs on Canada before the shift, and Reuters also said the dispute dates to July when Trump unveiled new tariffs on Canadian imports that took effect the following month.
Campaign fight and backlash
Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed attacked Rogers for changing course, saying, “You cheerled this tariff war from the beginning and you’re flip-flopping now because your poll numbers are in free fall.”
El-Sayed also accused Rogers of electoral opportunism in a social media post, writing, “Donald is the reason we’re in a trade war. And he’s the reason you’re running,” as Rogers sought to frame the tariff dispute as raising costs for Michigan businesses and consumers.
Rogers responded by arguing that his priority was to protect jobs and lower costs for Michigan residents, and he pledged to work with lawmakers from both parties to find a solution that lowers prices.
The Hill reported that Rogers did not mention President Trump in his ad, while Trump said he viewed the message as directed at Canadian officials, not him.
The Hill also said Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney engaged in a tit-for-tattariff war since August, with Trump imposing 50 percent levies on $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods in August and Carney matching those import taxes “dollar for dollar” in early September.
What is at stake
The Reuters account tied the tariff fight to Michigan’s economy, saying automakers depend on integrated cross-border supply chains and that industry leaders have warned a prolonged trade war could threaten jobs.
The Hill said businesses in the Wolverine State import $43.5 billion worth of goods from Canada annually, and it said cars, trucks, and motor vehicle parts account for roughly 48 percent of that total.
The Hill further said Michigan exports to Canada total $21.2 billion, with trucks, cars and motor vehicle parts accounting for $10.2 billion of that figure.
The Hill also reported that Trump threatened 50 percent tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts and steel starting on Jan. 1, and it said those levies and a potential Canadian response would hit Michigan particularly hard.
Reuters said the shifts reflect growing concerns among Republicans ahead of the November midterms, which will determine whether the party can hold onto its narrow House and Senate majorities.