WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced 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 before the midterm elections.
The move follows lobbying by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who is facing a close reelection 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% tariffs, which President Donald 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,” 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.”
Collins said the exemptions would help her state’s blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers.
In a proclamation on Friday, Trump said that he had agreed to modify his tariffs, and that the changes would “offset the burden or disadvantage on U.S. commerce” in a way that was consistent with “the interests of the United States.” The new tariffs will also apply to Canadian products like wooden coffins, parts for yachts, carpets and archery equipment, and will be effective as of 12:01 a.m. Oct. 30, the White House said.
The White House said it was responding to Canada’s “continued discrimination” against American farmers, manufacturers and workers.
“This administration will continue to use every available tool to restore reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships and safeguard the economic prosperity and national security of the American people,” said Matthew Middleton, a White House spokesperson.
The president’s trade spat with Canada began shortly after he returned to office, when Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian exports in return for what he claimed was the country’s role in channeling fentanyl to the United States. Trump has also angered Canadians by repeatedly referring to their country as the 51st state, and threatening to withdraw defensive provisions for Canada.
The tension has devolved into tit-for-tat trade actions that have proved unpopular with many Americans, particularly in states that rely on Canada as their biggest export market.
After Canada refused to fold to some of Trump’s trade demands, the Trump administration imposed tariffs in August on more than $20 billion of Canadian exports. Canada retaliated with tariffs on hundreds of U.S. products. Then in September, Trump banned some Canadian products outright, including alcoholic beverages, dairy byproducts and molasses.
Earlier this week, a food importer filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for those tariffs, saying they could increase its tax burden by $40 million annually. Courts have struck down other tariffs issued by Trump, but it remains to be seen how they rule in this case.
Collins and her Democratic opponent, Troy Jackson, have been deadlocked in recent polls. The loss of Collins’ seat could tip the Senate in favor of Democrats, upending Trump’s legislative agenda for the rest of his term. Voters in the state have been frustrated by Trump’s policies on tariffs, immigration and the war in Iran.
During a debate against Jackson this month, Collins defended her record and described herself as the “most outspoken opponent of the tariffs with Canada.” She highlighted her success exempting road salt and cement from the duties.
Jackson suggested that those efforts were too little and too late.
“Mainers can’t afford to pay their bills with a press release or a strongly worded letter,” he said. “What about everything else? We can’t eat road salt.”
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
