Trump Lifts Some Canada Tariffs Before Midterms

The United States (US) has lifted tariffs on some Canadian imports after a Republican candidate in a key Senate race before the midterm elections said she had lobbied for the change, the White House said.

The White House said on Friday that the move was part of efforts to “protect the economic prosperity and national security of the American people.”

The statement added that starting 30 October, the US would remove certain products from the list of Canadian goods it taxes, such as plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery, refrigeration equipment, packing crates and boxes. The administration said some other items, including certain valves, carpets and waste products, would replace them on the tariff list.

The decision could also help Republican candidates before the US midterm elections on November 3. Many voters have identified affordability and economic pressures as major concerns. Republican Senator Susan Collins, who is seeking a sixth term in Maine, first announced the exemptions. She said they would support her state’s agricultural industry.

In a statement issued before the White House announcement, Collins said she had “secured additional tariff exemptions products crucial to Maine’s agricultural industries, including blueberry, potato, apple, and seaweed producers”.

“Many of our farmers and growers rely on specialized equipment, packaging materials, and other products from Canada that are either unavailable from American suppliers or cannot be replaced without incurring significant expense,” she wrote on X.

Collins said she had asked US officials and senior administration officials to seek further tariff relief and encourage a broader trade agreement with Canada. Maine’s economy, like those of other US border states, is closely linked to Canada. These regions have felt the effects of the trade dispute.

The tariff war escalated after trade talks between Washington and Ottawa collapsed during the summer. The dispute has affected businesses and industries on both sides of the border.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the exemptions, which largely focus on Canadian agricultural and forestry products, were introduced partly to help Collins and other Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. The newspaper also reported that higher levies on other Canadian goods could offset the reductions.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Canada was “working very hard” on a trade deal with Washington. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada remained open to a mutually beneficial agreement but was prepared to wait.

“We could sign it this afternoon if the US were there. If it has to be months from now or longer than that, or another administration, before a proper deal comes into place, we will do that,” he said, according to CBC.

BBC said it had contacted the White House, the US Commerce Department and the US Trade Representative for further comment.

The trade dispute has also raised concerns among other Republican lawmakers. Michigan Republican Mike Rogers has called on Trump to end the standoff after spending months supporting the tariff policy in advertisements aired in his trade-reliant state.