White House Eases Some Canada Tariffs Weeks Before Midterms, After Collins Lobbying

On Friday, two weeks before the US midterm elections, the White House announced that it will ease some of its 50% tariffs on Canadian goods. The changes take effect on 30 October. The list of products getting relief includes plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery and refrigeration equipment, along with some packing crates and boxes.

The news did not come first from the White House. Republican Senator Susan Collins, who is in a tight race to keep her seat in Maine, announced the exemptions herself. She said she had repeatedly asked senior Trump officials for tariff relief. On X, she wrote that the exempted products were crucial to Maine's agricultural industries, naming blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers.

The relief is not one-directional. The White House said new tariffs will be introduced on other items, such as carpets and what it called waste products. It described the action as a reflection of President Donald Trump's continued efforts to defend American workers and ensure fair trade. Spokesman Matthew Middleton said Trump continues to address Canada's discriminatory treatment of US commerce.

The tariffs themselves date to August, when trade talks between the two countries collapsed. The US then imposed a 50% levy on $20bn (£15bn) worth of Canadian goods. Trump cited what he called unequal treatment of US car, dairy and alcohol exports. Last month, Prime Minister Mark Carney responded by matching the US tariffs dollar for dollar, and Canada has put in place a series of countermeasures. Carney has said they were necessary to protect Canadian workers.

Collins' Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, was dismissive of her claim to credit. He said Trump's trade wars have made life harder and more expensive for Mainers, and that Collins enabled the chaos by voting to confirm the people behind it. In his words, she now wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put out the fire. Collins, for her part, said she would keep working directly with administration officials to seek additional relief and encourage a broader trade agreement with Canada, which she called a neighbour, ally and largest trading partner.

Maine borders the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec, and its economy, like those of other border states, is deeply linked to Canada. These states have felt the effects of the months-long trade war. In Michigan, Republican lawmaker Mike Rogers has called on Trump to end the standoff, after spending months backing the policy in advertisements airing in his trade-reliant state. The midterms will decide whether Trump's Republicans or the Democrats control Congress for the remaining two years of his term.

On the same Friday, Trump said Canada was working very hard on a trade deal. Carney said Canada is open to a mutually beneficial agreement but is prepared to wait. According to the Canadian broadcaster CBC, he said Canada could sign this afternoon if the US were ready, and that if a proper deal takes months, longer, or another administration, Canada will wait.

Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's internal trade minister, said Canada is assessing the latest steps and stands ready to work constructively and in good faith toward a relationship that respects Canada's interests. On Thursday, he confirmed that a delegation met the Canada-United States Economic Relations Advisory Committee, the ninth meeting since April 2026, to discuss the continuing impact of US tariffs. Carney has also sought closer ties with Europe since the tariff war began. With the exemptions due on 30 October, the next markers are Collins' push for more relief and whether any broader deal materialises.