Collins Says She Won Break on Tariffs, but It's a Swap

Asked in a debate last week to name an instance in which she'd blocked a policy or appointee of President Trump, Sen. Susan Collins struggled. But on Friday, the Republican seeking reelection announced that Trump was cutting her state a break on tariffs just in time for the midterms. Several other states with close races are getting similar rollbacks on Canadian goods, the Washington Post reports. Collins touted exemptions for nine product categories, including packaging and plastic crates, refrigeration gear, and seaweed products, all of which had faced steep levies since the Trump administration's trade talks with Canada fell apart this summer. Collins' statement said she asked for the relief.

The canceled tariffs were as high as 50% on certain agricultural items, per NBC News. "I am pleased to have secured additional tariff exemptions," Collins posted. A document posted on the White House website verified the decision but said it's not the whole story. The administration said it's going to add tariffs to other goods, including "certain valves, carpets, waste products" to compensate for the duties being dropped—adding that the moves are intended to "further refine the scope of the tariffs." Troy Jackson, the Democrat running against her, responded by posting, "Susan Collins enabled this chaos, voted to confirm the people behind it, and now wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put out the fire."