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Last week, Sen. Susan Collins announced and took credit for securing Canadian tariff (tax) relief on several products used by Maine’s agricultural industry, such as blueberry, potato and apple growers and some wood products companies. The timing of the relief by the Trump Administration was to boost Susan Collins re-election.
In announcing the temporary tariff relief, Collins stated the relief is vital for Maine farmers and small businesses. As a Maine voter I think it is important to ask ourselves: If these tariffs are hurting our farmers and small businesses, why do we seemingly only get tariff relief during Collins reelection campaign? There are many other equally deserving small businesses that are also being harmed economically by President Donald Trump’s Canadian tariffs. Why were those small businesses excluded from tariff relief?
The fact that it apparently took the heat of a tight reelection campaign for Collins to convince the Trump administration to give some tariff relief, after she essentially let Trump have the congressional power to impose the tariffs in the first place, demonstrates their motives. I believe the late election tariff relief Collins announced benefits her and Trump far more than it benefits us.
We need a senator that will advocate on behalf of the working people of Maine all the time, not just at election time.
Jonathan Stolley
Ellsworth