The Trump administration is removing tariffs on selected Canadian goods starting 30 October, two weeks ahead of midterm elections. The White House said the exemptions will apply to plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery and refrigeration equipment. Republican Senator Susan Collins, who faces a tight race to keep her Maine seat, announced the exemptions and said they would benefit her state's agricultural industries, including blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers.
The US imposed the original 50% tariff on £15bn of Canadian goods after trade talks between the two countries collapsed in August. The White House said President Trump imposed them for what he called "unequal treatment" of US cars, dairy and alcohol. While lifting tariffs on some items including certain packing crates and boxes, the administration will introduce tariffs on other products such as carpets and waste products, the White House said.
Canada responded to the original US tariffs by imposing countermeasures. Prime Minister Mark Carney said last month that Canada matched the US tariffs "dollar for dollar" and that the measures were "necessary to protect our workers". On Friday, Carney said Canada was open to a mutually beneficial trade deal with the US but willing 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 Canadian broadcaster CBC.
Collins said she had repeatedly asked senior Trump officials for tariff relief and would "continue working directly with administration officials to seek additional relief and encourage a broader trade agreement with Canada, our neighbour, ally, and largest trading partner". Her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, responded that Trump's trade wars had made life harder for Maine residents. He said Collins had "enabled this chaos" and was "now wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put out the fire". Canada's internal trade minister Dominic LeBlanc confirmed that a delegation met with members of the Canada-United States Economic Relations Advisory Committee on Thursday, the ninth meeting since April 2026, to discuss the ongoing impact of US tariffs in Canada.