Trump trims his own tariff mess on select Canadian goods as Maine Senate contest looms
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President Donald Trump signed an order rolling back 50% tariffs on several Canadian agricultural and forestry products in a move widely seen as a political gesture aimed at helping Maine businesses and Senator Susan Collins before November’s elections.
President Donald Trump signed an order on Friday that removes the 50% tariff on a range of Canadian agricultural and forestry items, including plywood sheets, certain paper products, machinery, refrigeration equipment, packing crates, and fresh and dried seaweed. The relief takes effect on Oct. 30, just days before the midterm elections.
The White House said the adjustment is meant to respond to concerns raised by Senator Susan Collins, who said Maine’s blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers depend on specialized Canadian inputs that are hard to replace domestically. >"These producers are a vital part of our state's economy and support our rural and coastal communities," Collins said.
The order also adds a number of Canadian products to the existing 50% tariff list, including carpets, paints, shampoos, cocoa powder, wooden coffins, ice-cream sticks, air-conditioning units, chest freezers, archery equipment and canoes.
Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, who is contesting Collins’ seat, denounced the move, saying the tariffs have driven up costs for Mainers. >"Trump's trade wars have made life harder and more expensive for Mainers," Jackson said.
The tariff changes come after Trump imposed 50% duties on $20 billion of Canadian imports in August, triggering reciprocal Canadian tariffs on U.S. goods. White House spokesperson Matthew Middleton said the president is continuing to deal with what the administration calls Canada’s “discriminatory treatment of US commerce” and is “refining the scope” of the earlier tariffs.
Republican candidates in border states such as Maine and Michigan are trying to square support for Trump’s trade agenda with the need to win over independent voters ahead of closely contested Senate races.