Trump raises eyebrows with 'Hail Mary' pass to save Collins' hide

On Friday, new reporting by the Wall Street Journal revealed that President Donald Trump is dropping some tariffs against Canada in a desperate bid to save the floundering midterm candidacy of Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). As the Journal explains, "The U.S. is expected to remove 50 percent tariffs on some Canadian products in a bid to help Maine Sen. Susan Collins and other Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections, according to people familiar with the upcoming action.

The proclamation altering the tariffs, which could come as early as Friday, will likely remove 50 percent tariffs on certain agricultural and forestry products, according to the people, who emphasized that the scope and timing of the action could change. The tariff reductions could be balanced out by raising levies on other Canadian goods."

This is a desperate last-minute bid to save Collins, who has requested relief from tariffs that hit Maine industries and consumers. The Senator has broken with Trump on tariffs in an attempt to quell voter anger and secure re-election in a state heavily reliant on trade with Canada. Her Democratic opponent, Troy Jackson, has made Trump’s trade war with Canada a key issue in the campaign, and the two are dead even in the polls with just over a week until Election Day.

As the Journal elaborates, "Trump in late August applied 50 percent tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods — about 5 percent of its exports to the U.S. — after last-minute negotiations between the nations broke down. Canada retaliated with tariffs of its own, leading Trump to ban the import of certain Canadian products and threaten to double tariffs on Canadian vehicles in January if the sides cannot come to an agreement. The upcoming move would be the second time the Trump administration has altered its 50 percent tariffs on Canada. Last month, it removed tariffs from products including road salt and cement — a decision that Collins took credit for on the campaign trail. The move didn’t deter attacks from Jackson, however, who said during a debate with Collins this month that Maine residents 'can’t eat road salt.'"

While the request came from Collins, the Journal notes that the move could also be an attempt to help other embattled GOP candidates. In Michigan, nominee and former Rep. Mike Rogers has released ads calling for Trump to end his trade war with Canada after months of backing the president’s actions. In New Hampshire, former Sen. John Sununu has been similarly critical. According to the Journal, "Trump’s 50 percent tariffs were imposed under a never-before-used trade authority — Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, better known as Smoot-Hawley. This week, a New Jersey-based food importer filed a legal challenge against those tariffs, arguing the Trump administration is overstepping its legal authority."