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Detroit fears Trump’s Canada trade war will raise costs ahead of midterms
A June Epic-MRA poll found 63% of Michiganders oppose tariffs on Canadian goods, and nearly 75% said the tariffs are pushing prices higher.
The Guardian Economics reports that Detroit and Michigan officials and observers are warning that Donald Trump’s escalating trade spat with Canada could inflict disproportionate economic damage on the Detroit-Windsor cross-border auto region, with midterm politics now seen as a key factor in whether the policy endures.
The article says the latest escalation includes 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, and highlights polling showing Michiganders oppose the tariff program by a 63% to 31% margin in a June Epic-MRA survey, including 35% of Republicans.
It adds that nearly 75% of Michiganders said the tariffs are fueling higher prices, and that residents in the state are already paying more on average for tariffs, at over $3,200 annually, about 142% more than the rest of the country due to Michigan’s shared border with Canada.
The Guardian Economics also notes that observers describe the move as politically risky for Republicans, framing it as a potential help for Democrats because it is being pushed deep into election season, while an economist cited in the piece warns the Canadian economy would also take a major hit if the tariffs are imposed.