Trump predicts Canada trade dispute will be resolved ‘soon’

President Trump said Sunday his trade war with Canada will be over “soon,” as the dispute poses ongoing political problems for Republicans in the midterms. 

During a rally in Port Huron, Mich., Trump reiterated his view that Canada “has been ripping off” the U.S. “for years.”

The president used that justification in imposing 50 percent tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of goods from Canada in August. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney matched those levies “dollar for dollar,” with no public signs of a deal between the two sides.

“I had to do it. We’ll have that settled pretty soon,” the president said Sunday, referring to the trade war.

Trump also claimed Canadian officials “are willing to give us anything” as part of a trade agreement.

The Hill has reached out to Carney’s office for comment.

The president has threatened to increase tariffs on Canadian imported cars, trucks, auto parts and steel from 25 percent to 50 percent on New Year’s Day.

Carney, meanwhile, has responded to the trade war by deepening his country’s alliances with Europe and seeking less dependence on the U.S.

Multiple Republicans in difficult election battles have pushed back against Trump’s tariffs, including former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), who is running for Senate in the Wolverine State.

Rogers said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the auto tariffs concern him “a little bit,” as his state relies heavily on the industry.

“We’re going to go back and work through those issues to get some relief to make sure that it’s good for Michigan,” he told host Kristen Welker.

The White House on Friday exempted paperboard cartons, plastic boxes, refrigeration equipment and other products from the levies, a decision praised by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who is in a tough reelection fight.

“Many of our farmers and growers rely on specialized equipment, packaging materials, and other products from Canada that are either unavailable from American suppliers or cannot be replaced without incurring significant expense,” said Collins, who is in a close race with Democrat Troy Jackson.