Breaking

GOP Senate hopeful Mike Rogers calls for end to Canada trade war

The Michigan Republican’s new ad breaks with his earlier support for the tariffs; Trump said he took it as a call for Canada to make a deal, while Democrat Abdul El-Sayed called it a flip-flop.

Motion Media News Staff

Oct 8, 2026

3 minutes

Mike Rogers, in a dark suit and blue striped tie, gestures while seated on a stage in front of a Hudson Institute backdrop, next to another man in an armchair.

Photo: Hudson Institute, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), via Wikimedia Commons (source)

Mike Rogers, the Republican running for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat, urged an immediate halt to the trade fight with Canada in a 30-second ad released Wednesday, Oct. 7.

"Here in Michigan, we know that Canada is not our enemy. We need to end this tariff war — now," Rogers says in the spot, according to a transcript posted by his campaign. The campaign said the ad will run statewide in a seven-figure buy coordinated with the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Rogers opens the ad drinking a Labatt, a Canadian beer, while watching the Detroit Red Wings, and pledges to bring both parties together to lower prices.

The ad does not mention President Trump, The Hill reported. Politico described it as Rogers' second break with the administration, coming weeks after he urged ending the war with Iran.

Responses from Trump and El-Sayed

Asked about the ad in the Oval Office later Wednesday, Trump said: "Well, I viewed it as though he wanted Canada to make a deal," CBC News reported. Trump added that Canada has been "ripping us off for many, many years."

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee, wrote on social media that Rogers had "cheer-led this tariff war from the beginning" and was "flip-flopping now because your poll numbers are in free fall," according to CBC. Rogers trails El-Sayed in most public polls, the outlet said.

Rogers had backed the tariffs earlier. He told USA Today last month they were "necessary," The Hill reported, and in a Fox News interview this summer he said Canada's car exports "undercut the people who build cars and car parts," CBC reported.

The tariffs and Michigan

Trump put 50% tariffs on $27.6 billion of Canadian goods in August, and Prime Minister Mark Carney answered with matching duties in early September, according to The Hill. Trump has also threatened 50% levies on Canadian steel and on cars, trucks and auto parts beginning Jan. 1.

Michigan businesses import $43.5 billion of goods from Canada each year, and vehicles and parts make up about 48% of that, The Hill reported, citing Canadian government data. Vehicles and parts are also the state's largest export to Canada, at $10.2 billion of $21.2 billion.

Other Republicans have urged a resolution. Rep. John James, who is running for governor of Michigan, said at a debate Tuesday that he has asked U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to go back to negotiations with Canada, and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine has opposed the trade war, The Hill reported.

What's next

The threatened Canadian auto and steel tariffs would take effect Jan. 1, according to The Hill, and any Canadian response could weigh heavily on Michigan, the outlet reported.