Sen. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsClub for Growth to spend million in ads for Trump Supreme Court nominee Maryland's GOP governor says Republicans shouldn't rush SCOTUS vote before election The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November MORE (R-Maine) came to the defense of Canada following attacks on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE and some of his top advisers.

“We’ve had differences w/ Canada over the years, particularly regarding subsidies from the provincial & nat’l governments; nevertheless, Canada remains our close ally, good friend, & one of America’s biggest trading partners,” Collins tweeted Sunday.

ADVERTISEMENT

The senator said that “border communities” like those in Maine and southeast Canada are “truly intertwined," adding that the U.S. “must preserve this friendship.”

We’ve had differences w/ Canada over the years, particularly regarding subsidies from the provincial & nat’l governments; nevertheless, Canada remains our close ally, good friend, & one of America’s biggest trading partners. In Maine, we have a special relationship w/ Canada. 1/2 — Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) June 10, 2018

Many border communities are truly intertwined. Canadian nurses, for example, cross the border every day to work in Maine hospitals. A Madawaska, Maine, mill pumps pulp from the Canadian side of the border to be made into paper on the US side. We must preserve this friendship. 2/2 — Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) June 10, 2018

Trump and some of his top economic aides targeted Trudeau over the weekend after the Canadian leader criticized steep tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Canadian steel and aluminum imports.

The president called Trudeau “weak & dishonest” in a tweet following the Group of 7 summit on Saturday, after Trudeau said that his country would not be “pushed around” by the U.S. on trade and discussed retaliatory tariffs.

Trump doubled down on his criticism of other countries on trade in a series of tweets on Sunday night.

Fair Trade is now to be called Fool Trade if it is not Reciprocal. According to a Canada release, they make almost 100 Billion Dollars in Trade with U.S. (guess they were bragging and got caught!). Minimum is 17B. Tax Dairy from us at 270%. Then Justin acts hurt when called out! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2018

On Sunday, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow called Trudeau’s comments “a betrayal,” and trade official Peter Navarro said there was a “special place in hell” for leaders like Trudeau who engage in "bad faith diplomacy" with Trump.

Canada’s foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, responded Sunday, saying that the country does not find that “ad hominem attacks are a particularly appropriate or useful way to conduct our relations with other countries.”