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 met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer behind closed doors on Capitol Hill, with some expressing concerns about the potential negative impact of escalating tariffs on their re-election chances in the upcoming midterms. However, most attendees voiced their backing for the president’s trade approach.
During the meeting, Texas Representative August Pfluger commended Trump for bringing back manufacturing jobs to the U.S. and pointed fingers at Canada for initiating the trade conflict. Similarly, Florida Congressman Brian Mast criticized Canada for rejecting what he deemed a favorable deal. Greer refrained from commenting on the status of negotiations with Canada after the meeting.
At the White House, Trump reiterated his belief that Canada has long taken advantage of the U.S. in trade, highlighting restrictions on American banks operating in Canada as a major concern. Meanwhile, South Carolina Representative Ralph Norman, the only GOP member to express voter concerns about the trade war, emphasized the importance of affordability for constituents in his district.
Despite public opinion polls showing disapproval of Trump’s tariffs, several Congressional Republicans defended the president’s stance on the trade dispute with Canada. Missouri Congressman Eric Burlison cautioned against Canada imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports, arguing that Canada relies more on the U.S. economically than vice versa.