Trump exempts Canada from 50% tariffs on agricultural and forestry products, Senator Collins announces
Updated 5:06 p.m.: Trump signed the presidential proclamation, and the White House published the official text: certain Canadian products (agricultural machinery, refrigeration equipment, packaging, paper and plywood sheets) no longer face the additional 50% duty, while others (valves, carpets, waste products) are now subject to it. The changes take effect October 30, 2026, the document says. A U.S. official said the new duties offset the exemptions, leaving the tariffs' overall impact unchanged. Collins welcomed the signing: "I have asked for tariff relief for these important products and will continue working directly with Administration officials to seek additional relief." Her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, responded on X that Collins "wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put out the fire."
Washington — The Trump administration will grant exemptions from 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian agricultural and forestry products, Republican Senator Susan Collins announced Friday, in a turn in the trade war the president had escalated in August.
Collins, who is fighting a tough re-election battle in Maine, said on social media she had secured "additional tariff exemptions" for products crucial to her state's agricultural industries, including blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers. The exemptions also cover plastic boxes, packaging materials, refrigeration equipment, sealing and labeling machinery, and seaweed products.
The senator said many "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."
The 50% tariffs had been applied after Canada withdrew from trade negotiations with the Trump administration in late August, under the 1930 Tariff Act (Smoot-Hawley). The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that the move is aimed at helping Collins and other Republicans ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, and that a presidential proclamation could come as early as Friday, though the scope and timing could still change. Bloomberg confirmed the exemption announcement. Read the White House proclamation.
A White House official said any tariff announcement would come directly from the administration and called preliminary reports "speculation." Collins said she will continue working with officials such as U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to seek further relief.
Photo: newsline24
Source: newsline24 / NBC News and The Wall Street Journal