Rogers Calls For End To Canada Tariff War; Trade Group Applauds, Democrats Question Shift

Article courtesy of MIRS News Service

Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mike Rogers is calling for an immediate end to the “tariff war” with Canada in a new statewide television ad released Wednesday, drawing praise from the Michigan Smart Trade Alliance and accusations from Michigan Democrats that he is reversing course after defending President Donald Trump’s trade policies since the start of his campaign.

The 30-second spot is part of a seven-figure coordinated advertising buy between Rogers’ campaign and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, according to the campaign. It pitches Rogers as someone who would work across party lines to lower prices.

“Drinking a Labatt and watching the Red Wings. Man, it just doesn’t get any more Michigan than that,” Rogers says in the ad. “And here in Michigan, we know that Canada is not our enemy.

“We need to end this tariff war — now.”

Rogers promises to bring both parties together to reduce costs if elected, calling that “job number one.” Neither the transcript nor the accompanying campaign release details how he would seek to end the trade dispute.

The Michigan Smart Trade Alliance (MISTA) welcomed the statement ahead of Thursday’s U.S. Senate debate, saying both Rogers and Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed have now publicly opposed the trade war with Canada.

“All major statewide candidates of both parties are now where Michigan voters have been all along,” said MISTA spokesperson John Sellek. “Our polling has shown that Michigan voters don’t want a trade war with our neighbor and largest trading partner.”

Sellek urged the winner and Michigan’s congressional delegation to press for an extension of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and a more predictable trading relationship.

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel, however, called the ad a late campaign pivot that conflicts with Rogers’ previous support for tariffs.

“For more than a year, Price Hike Mike has mocked concerns about tariff price hikes and told Michiganders ‘the shoe is going to pinch every once in a while,’” Hertel said. “Rogers is a Trump sycophant who has already pledged to give Trump even more power to impose price-hiking tariffs, and Michiganders aren’t going to be fooled by his last-minute political stunt.”

The party’s response cited earlier remarks in which it said Rogers called the trade war with Canada “necessary” and argued that “the Canadians have not been good partners.” Democrats also pointed to his support for the United States Reciprocal Trade Act, which they described as expanding Trump’s authority to impose tariffs.

Rogers’ campaign previously had framed his ability to work with Trump as an advantage over El-Sayed, arguing that cooperation with the President would produce results for Michigan.

Wednesday’s Rogers’ ad also accuses El-Sayed of wanting to impose a $3,000 tax increase on Michigan families, a reference to the Democrats’ opposition to the One Big Beautiful Bill, which the Tax Foundation estimates gave the average Michigan family a tax cut of around $3,000 a year.

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