Trump exempts Canada from 50% tariffs on agricultural and forestry products, Senator Collins announces

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.

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