Ahead of Tight Race, Trump Swaps Tariffs on Some Canadian Goods

The Trump administration announced on Friday that it will shuffle its tariffs on Canadian products, exempting some items and applying new tariffs to others, in what appeared to be a last-minute bid to provide relief to American farmers ahead of the midterm elections.

The move follows lobbying by Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican who is facing a close re-election bid in her state. The tariffs that are being lifted apply to Canadian products such as corrugated paper, refrigeration equipment, plywood and packing machinery, items that are widely used by farmers and growers in Maine. They currently face 50 percent tariffs, which Mr. Trump slapped on a variety of Canadian goods in July.

Instead, new tariffs will be applied to Canadian exports of cocoa powder, vinyl flooring, shampoo, canoes and other products.

“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,” Ms. Collins said in a post on social media. “I will continue working directly with Administration officials to seek additional relief and encourage a broader trade agreement with Canada, our neighbor, ally, and largest trading partner.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/23/business/trump-susan-collins-canada-tariffs.html