Republican lawmakers in Congress are expressing public support for President Donald Trump in his trade dispute with Canada, placing blame on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration for walking away from negotiations. A group of GOP House members convened on Capitol Hill for a meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss tariffs. While some Republicans are privately apprehensive about the potential negative impact of escalating tariffs on their re-election prospects in the upcoming midterms, those who spoke with CBC News after the meeting generally voiced backing for the president’s trade tactics.
Texas Republican August Pfluger commended Trump for his efforts to bring back manufacturing jobs to the U.S. and criticized Ottawa for the trade conflict, stating that Canada has taken advantage of the United States for an extended period. Similarly, Brian Mast, a Congressman from Florida, faulted Canada for the breakdown in trade negotiations, highlighting that Canada rejected a favorable deal.
Upon exiting the meeting, Greer declined to comment on the status of trade discussions with Canada. Meanwhile, at the White House, Trump reiterated his stance that Canada has exploited the U.S. in trade matters. He specifically pointed to restrictions on American bank operations in Canada as a major concern, emphasizing the disparity in banking opportunities between the two countries.
Ralph Norman, representing a South Carolina district, was the sole Republican who raised apprehensions about the trade war’s impact on voters, focusing on affordability concerns in his state. He indicated that Greer was open to addressing the effects of tariffs on individual states and acknowledged the genuine concerns expressed by lawmakers.
Despite public opinion polls indicating disapproval of Trump’s tariffs, several Congressional Republicans defended the president’s trade actions against Canada. Missouri Congressman Eric Burlison cautioned against Canada imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports, emphasizing America’s economic strength compared to Canada and suggesting that Canada relies more on the U.S. economically.
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