Michigan Senate hopeful Mike Rogers faces pressure over Trump's trade war
Trump's trade war a ballot issue in close race between Rogers and Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed
Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers faced pressure over U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war with Canada during a heated debate Thursday that could sway voters in a consequential midterm race in which neither candidate ruled out future tariffs.
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candidate → face → tariffs
Trump's escalating tariffs on Canada came up within the first 10 minutes of the debate.
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tariffs → escalate → debate
Rogers was asked about an advertisement released Wednesday in which he said "Canada is not our enemy," and how he squares that position with longstanding support for the tariffs.
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he → ask → tariffs
"I would like to see the deal made," Rogers responded.
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Rogers → like → ?
"I have actually called the White House this week, talked to the secretary of Commerce, about getting the deal done."
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deal → call → Commerce
Rogers said Canada imposes tariffs on U.S. goods, without providing details about the levies or addressing the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, which was negotiated during the first Trump administration.
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which → say → administration
Trump administration faces 2 lawsuits for taxpayer-funded ads as midterms draw near
'Canada is not our enemy': Michigan Republican Senate candidate breaks with Trump on trade war
But the Republican candidate said the U.S. tariffs on Canada are now too high and those should be eliminated.
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those → face → Canada
"This is about getting to the best deal possible.
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This → get → deal
I'd like to it end.
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it → like → ?
I think we need to end it," Rogers said before taking jabs at his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, claiming El-Sayed's policies would raise prices.
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policies → think → prices
The trade war with Canada has become a campaign issue in the close race between Rogers and El-Sayed ahead of the November midterm elections.
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war → become → elections
Trump rapidly escalated his trade war and rhetoric against Canada after negotiations fell apart in August.
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negotiations → escalate → August
Trump signed an order to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America, and the United States imposed 50 per cent tariffs on an array of Canadian goods.
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States → sign → goods
A few weeks later, Ottawa responded with retaliatory duties.
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Ottawa → respond → duties
Last week, a U.S. import ban on some Canadian liquor, whey products and motorcycles officially took effect.
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ban → take → effect
Rogers had also previously inserted himself into the dispute over the controversial delay of the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit, claiming "America will get a better financial deal and that there will be no Chinese cars pouring over that bridge."
Polling has shown that a majority of Michigan voters disapprove of Trump's tariffs and his targeting of Canada.
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majority → insert → Canada
Michigan's economy is deeply integrated with Canada's, particularly in the auto industry.
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economy → integrate → industry
That has put Rogers in a difficult position.
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That → put → position
He is among a growing number of Republicans distancing their campaigns from some of the president's policies.
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He → grow → policies
Clashes over Iran war, cost of fuel
Thursday's fiery debate also featured clashes over the Iran war, cost of gas and diesel and properties owned by the candidates.
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debate → feature → candidates
Rogers argued El-Sayed's policies would be costly, while the Democrat sought to tie Rogers to Trump's controversial policies, as well as properties outside Michigan and campaign donations.
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Democrat → argue → Michigan
Abdul El-Sayed, the Democrats' nominee for the U.S. Senate in Michigan in 2026, is seen participating in a televised debate against Rogers (unseen in the image above) in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Thursday.
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Sayed → see → Thursday
Democrats would need a net gain of four seats to win a Senate majority, making the Michigan race particularly consequential.
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race → need → majority
But El-Sayed's response on tariffs is unlikely to reassure Canadians shaken by Trump's trade polices.
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response → reassure → polices
He was asked about a statement on his website supporting tariffs as long as they are targeted.
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they → ask → tariffs
While El-Sayed said the tariffs on Canada are costing Michiganders thousands of dollars, he said he supports duties as part of an "industrial policy that makes sense.
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that → say → sense
"
"We use tariffs to protect our own market," El-Sayed said.
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Sayed → use → market
"This is, like everything, ham-fisted, chaotic, self-serving, that Donald Trump does."
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Trump → serve → that
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