Trump says Canada tariff dispute could be resolved soon
US President Donald Trump has said the trade dispute with Canada could be resolved soon, while defending higher tariffs on Canadian goods at a rally in Port Huron, Michigan. He made the remarks at a political event aimed at boosting Republican candidates ahead of the 3 November midterm elections. The comments come as the tariff standoff continues to affect Michigan's border economy and the Detroit-based auto sector.
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Trump told the crowd that the dispute would be settled "pretty soon" and said Canada was willing to give the United States "anything at this moment." He repeated his view that higher tariffs were necessary because Canada had been "ripping off" the United States in trade. The office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The rally took place in a region that has been politically important for Trump.
He won Michigan's border region, including Port Huron, in the 2024 presidential election with more than 66% of the vote. The local economy has nevertheless felt the effects of the tariff standoff, with the auto industry among the sectors exposed to cross-border trade tensions. Republican Congressman Mike Rogers, who is running in a close race against Democratic rival Abdul El-Sayed, has tried to distance himself from the president's tariff policy on the auto sector.
Rogers praised Trump's tariffs for helping secure manufacturing investments in Michigan by Chevrolet and Detroit Diesel, but said the automobile part of the Canadian tariffs worried him. His comments underline the political sensitivity of trade policy in a state where manufacturing and cross-border commerce remain central issues. The dispute also highlights the wider tension between Trump's tariff strategy and the economic interests of border communities that depend on trade with Canada.
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The latest remarks do not amount to a formal policy change, but they suggest the White House is still treating the tariff row as negotiable. For Canada, any settlement would matter because the dispute has already fed uncertainty in sectors tied to supply chains and vehicle production. For Michigan, the issue is likely to remain part of the broader debate over jobs, investment and trade ahead of the midterms.
What remains unclear is whether the two sides are actually close to an agreement or whether Trump's comments were mainly political messaging for the rally. There has been no immediate public response from Carney's office, and no details were given on what a settlement might involve. The next developments to watch are any formal US or Canadian statements and whether the tariff issue becomes more prominent in the Michigan campaign.
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