Retiring Maine Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, whose district borders Canada, has voiced support for President Trump's trade policies, warning that a trade war with the United States would not benefit Canada.

"If Canada thinks they're better off without our goods, I wish them good luck," Golden told the Portland Press Herald. "I suspect in the long run, it won't go well for them." Golden, representing Maine's 2nd Congressional District which has supported Trump in recent elections, has previously backed tariffs imposed by the administration.

This support comes as the Trump administration recently imposed a 50% tariff on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, including beer and cheese, following the breakdown of trade talks. Canada, through officials like Prime Minister Mark Carney, has vowed to retaliate with its own tariffs on American products, beginning September 8. The proposed Canadian tariffs would range from 15% to 50% on approximately 700 types of U.S. goods.

The United States' top trading partner, Canada, relies more heavily on trade with the U.S. as a percentage of its economy compared to the U.S.'s reliance on Canada.

Golden, one of a few House Democrats from swing districts, has cited threats against his family as a reason for not seeking reelection. Earlier this year, he argued that "America's broken trade order decimated domestic manufacturing and Maine's heritage industries" and that "tariffs remain a proven tool to restore balance and tilt the scales back in favor of American manufacturing."

Most of Maine's congressional delegation, including Republican Sen. Susan Collins, has expressed criticism of the trade dispute with Canada, with Collins warning of potential negative impacts on Maine's lobster industry.

President Trump has characterized Canada as the "most difficult and unreasonable" in trade negotiations, stating on social media that they "feel entitled, but they are not a State, and will be entitled no longer!"

In a related development, Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario, situated between New York and Canada, to "Lake America."