Republican lawmakers in Congress are openly supporting President Donald Trump in his trade dispute with Canada, placing blame on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration for withdrawing from negotiations. A group of GOP House members convened on Capitol Hill for a private session with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss tariffs. While some Republicans are privately worried about potential negative impacts on their re-election chances in the upcoming midterms, those who spoke with CBC News after the meeting generally expressed solidarity with the president’s trade tactics.
Texas Representative August Pfluger commended Trump for revitalizing manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and faulted Ottawa for the trade conflict. Pfluger emphasized, “It’s a conflict instigated by Canada. The Canadians must be reasonable. They have been taking advantage of the United States for a long time.” Brian Mast, a longstanding Congressman from Florida, also criticized 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 talks with Canada. Meanwhile, at the White House, Trump reiterated his stance that Canada has exploited the U.S. in trade relations. Trump specifically pointed to restrictions on U.S. bank operations in Canada as a major concern, underscoring the disparity between the operations of Canadian banks in the U.S. versus American banks in Canada.
On Capitol Hill, Ralph Norman, representing a South Carolina district, raised concerns about the impact of the trade dispute on voters, emphasizing the importance of affordability. Norman noted that Greer showed readiness to address the effects of tariffs on individual states, acknowledging the genuine concerns expressed. Although public opinion polls show widespread disapproval of Trump’s tariffs, several Congressional Republicans staunchly defended the president’s stance on the trade conflict with Canada, echoing Trump’s arguments in support. Missouri Representative Eric Burlison cautioned against Canada imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports, asserting that Canada relies more on the U.S. economically.