U.S. Lifts 50% Tariffs on Select Canadian Products Ahead of Midterms, Adds 100 New Items to List
The Trump administration will remove 50% tariffs on 22 Canadian products, including agricultural machinery and seaweed, effective October 30, following lobbying by Maine Senator Susan Collins. Simultaneously, 100 new products were added to the tariff list under Section 338 as Collins faces a tight re-election race.
The Trump administration announced it will lift 50 percent tariffs on 22 specific Canadian products, including paper, plastic packaging, refrigeration equipment, agricultural machinery, and seaweed and algae products. The exemptions, issued via a White House proclamation, are scheduled to take effect on October 30.
Maine Senator Susan Collins announced the tariff changes on Friday, stating they are crucial for Maine businesses and farms that rely on specialized Canadian imports. The exemptions are expected to provide relief for the state's blueberry, potato, apple, and seaweed producers. Collins previously pressured the administration to drop tariffs on road salt, which she cited as evidence of her advocacy efforts.
While these specific goods were exempted, the administration simultaneously added 100 new products to the 50 percent tariff list under Section 338. The newly targeted items include cocoa powder, paints, shampoo, waste, wooden coffins, and carpets. President Donald Trump initially imposed the 50 percent tariffs in August as retaliation for Canada's countermeasures on U.S. goods.
The policy shift arrives amid intense political pressure on Republican candidates in border states like Maine and Michigan ahead of the November midterm elections. Polls indicate the trade dispute with Canada is deeply unpopular among American voters. Collins, a 30-year veteran of the Senate, is currently in a competitive re-election race against Democratic challenger Troy Jackson. A recent poll shows Collins and Jackson tied at 49 percent each.
Jackson criticized Collins' announcement, arguing that small carveouts do not reverse wider economic damage caused by increased costs for consumers and businesses. He accused her of enabling the trade chaos and has made the dispute with Canada a central issue of his campaign.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking during a visit to Turkey, stated that Canada remains open to a mutually beneficial deal with the United States but is not in a rush to sign one. Meanwhile, Trump falsely claimed that Canada earns $90 billion annually from the U.S. Official data from the U.S. Trade Representative pegs the goods trade deficit with Canada at $48.3 billion.