US midterm results a 'victory' for Canadians hopeful of tariff relief

Fonte da imagem: Getty Images Legenda da imagem: tarifas dos EUA sobre o Canadá tiveram grande destaque em Michigan e Maine, onde candidatos democratas venceram em grande escala na terça-feira.

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A luta para salvar a cidade canadense ameaçada pelos tarifas de Trump.

It was the midterm result that many in Canada had hoped for - a Democratic sweep that was in part a repudiation by American voters of Donald Trump's tariff on close trade allies.

Eu estava fazendo voltas de costas na rua," disse o Premier de Ontário Doug Ford na manhã de quarta-feira, chamando isso de "uma vitória para o Canadá.

Tuesday night's result is unlikely to grant Canada relief from those tariffs any time soon, but there is anticipation that the political shifts could create a more favourable environment for Ottawa to get the best deal now that on-again-off-again trade talks are back on.

US voters cited affordability as a main concern heading into the midterms and a survey by the Cato Institute in September, external suggested that about 75% believe the tariffs have raised prices.

Em estados como Maine e Michigan, tarifas desempenharam um papel significativo nas disputas acirradas.

In Maine, incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins clashed with the White House over tariffs.

Ela conseguiu pressionar para que algumas atribuições que afetavam diretamente o estado fossem removidas, incluindo aquelas sobre sal de estrada, equipamentos de refrigeração e algas marinhas, mas no final perdeu para o democrata Troy Jackson.

A similar story played out in Michigan, where state's the automobile manufacturing industry is deeply intertwined with Canada's - and where Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers.

Trump's 25% tariffs on non-US made cars and trucks have led to layoffs in the province of Ontario, and have contributed to thousands of dollars in additional household costs for Michiganders, according to an analysis by the US-based National Taxpayers Union Foundation, external.

Como Collins, Rogers buscou se distanciar das tarifas de Trump, declarando em um anúncio de TV no mês passado que “Canadá não é nosso inimigo.”.

El-Sayed, meanwhile, bluntly assessed the tariffs as "dumb" and blamed them directly for driving up costs.

In Ohio, Senator-elect Sherrod Brown, who defeated Republican Jon Husted, called the levies a "disaster" and vowed to slash costs for voters by getting rid of them, external.

Líderes democratas como Hakeem Jeffries e Chuck Schumer, agora recém-empoderados, pressionaram ambos para conter as tarifas sobre o Canadá nos últimos meses.

Still, Democratic control of Congress might not do much to move the needle on tariffs. Trump's levies have been largely enacted using executive orders without approval from Congress.

And speaking to Fox News on Tuesday night, Trump touted his "ultimate power" of veto to shut down bills passed by Congress that he does not like.

Alguns legisladores democratas também apoiaram certas tarifas no passado como forma de proteger empregos na manufatura americana e poderiam apoiar a manutenção de alguns.

There are currently several layers of tariffs on Canada, notably on sectors like autos, steel, aluminium and forestry.

The US also declared a total import ban on motorcycles, whey protein and alcohol.

Canadá retaliou ao impor aos EUA tarifas de 50% “dólar por dólar”. A maioria das províncias também proibiu a venda de álcool americano em retaliação.

Trump had also previously threatened to escalate the trade war with Canada further by ⁠raising tariffs on sectors, including auto manufacturing, as of 1 January.

There were signs that his administration had become more sensitive to the optics of its tariffs on Canada in the run up to the election.

Apenas alguns dias antes da votação, Trump disse a repórteres que um acordo comercial está “muito próximo” depois de conversar com o Primeiro Ministro Mark Carney.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday evening, Carney said of US negotiators that "they're asking less and they're offering more" in recent discussions.

On Wednesday, US-Canada Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the midterm results won't change anything in the short term, and dismissed speculation over what the new Congress might do when they're seated in the new year as "an interesting discussion at a faculty club luncheon.

Nossa abordagem não mudará e não pretendemos especular sobre a abordagem adotada pelos americanos," ele disse.

Trump may feel more pressure to sign a deal with Canada now that American voters have clearly communicated their frustration, said Colin Robertson, a former Canadian diplomat and a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

Isso mudará a opinião de Trump? Pode ser, pois ele sofreu uma derrota tão grande nas urnas.

But he added it remains to be seen how Trump will react from the bruising midterm loss.

Canada has an ideal window between now and January - when the new Democratic lawmakers are sworn in - to finalise a deal, Robertson noted.

Depois disso, Trump provavelmente será distraído por investigações lançadas pelos democratas sobre a família e finanças de Trump e alguns membros de sua administração, disse Robertson.

US trade representative Jamieson Greer also said earlier this year that he had ambitions to have interim deals in place with Canada and Mexico around the North American free trade deal, known as the USMCA in the US and CUSMA in Canada, before the end of the year.

E, enquanto Carney adotou um tom mais otimista nos últimos dias sobre o estado atual das negociações comerciais Canada-US, ele também disse à Politico no mês passado que estava preparado para esperar por um novo presidente americano, se necessário, para chegar a um acordo com os US.