Collins blasts Trump’s Canada tariffs as a ‘mistake’

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who faces a tough reelection race this November, blasted President Trump’s latest tariff threats against Canada as a “mistake,” arguing that the United States and especially her home state have a “beneficial” trade relationship with Canada.

“I still think imposing new tariffs on Canada is a mistake,” Collins told News Center Maine in an interview.

Collins said she recently met with Canada’s ambassador to the United States and urged him to address what she called a trade barrier against U.S. dairy imports.

“I really want us to go back to the very friendly, economically beneficial relationship that we have with our Canadian neighbors. We produce a lot in Maine — our blueberries, our potatoes, our lobster, our lumber — that is processed across the border. If it comes back with a huge tariff on it, perhaps as much as 50 percent, that increases the cost of eating, building homes and merch[andising] our best-known products,” Collins said.

The Maine senator said she thought the Trump administration was close to a deal with Canada.

“This has been really up and down,” she said. “Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but I hope it brings an agreement.”

Trump on Monday then threatened to enact a 50 percent tariff on cars, trucks, auto parts and steel. It would go into effect Jan. 1, 2027.

That followed 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian imports such as hockey sticks, whiskey, goose-down jackets, ice skates, furniture, lumber and other products going into effect over the weekend.

“The on-again/off-again trade talks between the U.S. and Canada lead to higher costs, risk, and uncertainty for Maine businesses. If the Administration proceeds with these tariffs, they will increase costs for Maine families, as most businesses will have no choice but to pass on the tariffs to their customers through higher prices,” Collins wrote Saturday on social platform X.

She noted that Maine imports approximately $2 billion in nonpetroleum products from Canada each year.

Collins has urged U.S. and Canadian negotiators to resume talks until they reach a deal.