Facing serious losses in next week’s midterm elections, the Republicans are suddenly very keen to get a trade deal with Ottawa over the line.
What happened: Negotiations on a new Canada-U.S. trade deal appear to be picking up steam, with multiple government and industry sources telling CTV News that talks intensified over the weekend and were “all consuming.”
Donald Trump said at a rally on Sunday night that the trade rift would be coming to an end soon, insisting that “they're willing to give us anything at this moment."
Why it’s happening: The tit-for-tat tariff war has become a defining issue for several key states in the midterm elections, with many voters blaming the levies for higher prices. In Michigan, over 60% of voters disapprove of the tariffs, while 70% of likely voters in Maine say the tariff war is bad for the state.
Nationally, the picture is similar: Reuters-Ipsos polling last month found that 57% of Americans oppose the tariffs on Canada, nearly triple the share that support them.
What’s more, nearly half of Americans say the U.S. is responsible for the trade war, while just 12% blame Canada.
Why it matters: The ramped-up pressure on Republicans could be the catalyst needed to finally get a trade deal signed, sealed, and delivered. Despite Trump’s claims that he holds all the cards, souring public sentiment seems to have given Ottawa some renewed leverage.
Yes, but: As with any Trump claim, take this all with a White House ballroom-sized grain of salt. If the Republicans pull off a few upsets in the midterms, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the White House renege on commitments made in any tentative trade deal with Ottawa.—LA
