<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/maine/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Maine</a> Democratic Senate nominee <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/troy-jackson/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Troy Jackson</a> on Wednesday criticized his opponent for celebrating road salt exemptions from U.S. <a href="https://washingtonexaminer.com/tag/tariffs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tariffs</a> imposed on Canada.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">During a campaign event following an endorsement from the Maine Education Association, the state’s largest union, Jackson was asked about President Donald Trump’s administration granting exemptions for road salt and other items for companies in Maine. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), who is running for reelection against Jackson, had advocated for these exemptions, stating that “road salt and cement are two products crucial to Maine that would be severely affected” by Trump’s tariffs on Canada.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“I mean, yeah, thank you for the road salt. But I mean, is that in the end going to feed people’s families and put oil in the tank and things like that?” Jackson told reporters. “I would just think that someone that is the most powerful senator in the United States Senate would be able to do more than get us road salt back.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Jackson further questioned Collins’s efforts to address broader economic issues, asking, “What has she done to stand up, to get Trump to back off of parts coming in from Canada, fertilizer coming in from Canada for farmers? I mean, what has she done to make sure that cross-border tourism — I mean, a place like Madawaska have no more Canadians coming over? All these things are killing our economy.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump imposed a 50% tariff on August 22 on many Canadian goods after trade negotiations between the countries broke down the previous day. Canada responded with retaliatory tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of U.S. products, targeting goods including steel, dairy products, appliances, agricultural equipment, and electronics.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Collins has argued that Trump’s tariffs have overlooked the impact on border states like Maine that rely heavily on trade with Canada.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Take road salt, we get all of our road salt from Canada, and for a small town like Frenchville in Northern Aroostook County, a town of about 900 people, that’s an extra $10,000 a year,” Collins said during a visit to the Maine Energy Marketers Association Technical Education Center last week.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Republican senator, who has consistently opposed tariffs on Canada, mentioned that she has spoken with Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer about reopening discussions with Ottawa and de-escalating the trade conflict.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“I think the administration has very much underestimated the impact on Maine families, on small manufacturers, on our agricultural products,” Collins told <em>Politico</em> in an interview published Tuesday. “And that’s what I’m trying my best to educate them about. They look at this issue as a macro issue. And in fact, the micro impact on a state like Maine is considerable.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Maine Senate race is considered one of the most competitive in the country, with Democrats aiming for Jackson to flip the seat. Polls indicate a closely contested race, as Republicans hope Collins, a centrist who has held the seat for nearly 30 years, can secure another victory.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Jackson became the Democratic nominee in July, replacing Graham Platner, who suspended his campaign following allegations of misconduct.</p>