Key Facts

• Susan Collins is a Republican senator from Maine running for re-election.
• She secured tariff exemptions on nine agricultural products, including blueberries, potatoes, apples, and seaweed.
• Maine farmers rely on some equipment and materials from Canada that are hard to replace or expensive to get from other sources.
• The exemptions followed tariffs imposed by President Trump on Canadian goods and Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on American products.
• Maine’s economy depends heavily on trade with Canada, especially in industries like logging, fishing, and lobstering.
• Collins has often voted against some of President Trump’s policies but has had limited success during his current term.
• The Maine Senate race is important for Democrats trying to gain control of Congress.
• Democrat Troy Jackson, Collins’ opponent, has criticized her vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and opposes Trump’s trade policies.