US northern border regions uneasy over Canada tariff war, midterm impact watched

President Donald Trump's expansion of his tariff war to Canada is causing unease in US northern border regions, where political leaders are closely monitoring potential impacts on November midterm elections. These areas have deeply integrated economies with Canada and face direct consequences from the trade dispute. Democratic Representative Marcy Kaptur of Ohio called the tariffs "a big, heavy blow to the gut," while Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine criticized the move as a mistake that would raise consumer prices on goods like gasoline, cars, and hockey sticks. Michigan business coalition leader John Select noted most members voted for Trump but fear trade disruption will hurt their operations. Vice President JD Vance visited Maine to defend the tariffs as correcting unfair Canadian trade practices, while some Republicans worry about exemptions, including Iowa's Ashley Hinson criticizing a 90-day tariff waiver on imported beef as harmful to local ranchers.