Trump to exempt some Canadian products from tariffs
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Trump signed a proclamation removing plywood, some paper products and certain machinery from Canadian tariffs.
The relief lands ahead of the Nov.
Background
Susan Collins is a Republican U.S. Senator from Maine, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and is in a tight re-election race against Democrat Troy Jackson. The tariff fight with Canada began shortly after Trump returned to office, when he imposed tariffs on Canadian exports over what he claimed was the country's role in channeling fentanyl to the United States; Canada retaliated and later walked away from near-final trade talks. Collins, who calls herself the most outspoken opponent of the Canada tariffs, argued the exempted goods are essential to Maine farms and businesses and cannot be easily replaced by U.S. suppliers. The exemptions come with U.S.-Canada trade talks at a standstill and ahead of the midterm elections.
How it unfolded
- Jul 20, 2026President Trump announced tariffs on certain Canadian products, later modified on September 8, 2026.
- Jul 2026Trump ordered 50 percent tariffs on a variety of Canadian goods.
- Aug 2026After Canada refused to fold to trade demands, the administration imposed tariffs on more than $20 billion of Canadian exports; Canada retaliated with tariffs on hundreds of U.S. products.
- Late Aug 2026Canada withdrew from trade negotiations with the Trump administration.
- Sep 2026Trump banned some Canadian products outright, including alcoholic beverages, dairy byproducts and molasses.
- Sep 2026Trump previously exempted road salt and other products following a request from Collins, and Canada amended its retaliatory duties to remove seafood products.
- Oct 23, 2026Collins announced the administration will scrap tariffs on some paper and plastic products, refrigeration and packaging equipment, agricultural machinery and seaweed and algae products, among others.
- Oct 23, 2026Trump signed a Proclamation under Section 338 removing plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery and refrigeration equipment, and certain packing crates and boxes from the tariffs, replacing them with certain valves, carpets, waste products and others.
- Oct 30, 2026The expanded exemptions take effect.
Who’s saying what
- Support
- Collins said she secured exemptions for products crucial to Maine's agricultural industries, including blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers, and will keep pushing for a broader trade agreement with Canada.
- Caution
- Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson said Mainers can't pay their bills with a press release or a strongly worded letter, asking "What about everything else? We can't eat road salt."
- Party
- Democrats accused Collins of seeking to mitigate economic damage that she helped to cause.
- Official
- The White House said new duties on certain valves, carpets and waste products would keep the tariffs' overall impact unchanged.
Still unverified
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar, that the U.S. is expected to remove 50% tariffs on some Canadian products, with those people emphasizing the scope and timing could change; the Journal also reported earlier that the exemptions were aimed at helping Collins in her electoral battle with Jackson.