Trump administration eases some Canadian tariffs ahead of US midterms
publishers 26articles 27first reported 21 Oct, 03:30 UTCdeveloping since 21 Oct · 11 editions
The Trump administration will lift some of its 50% tariffs on Canadian goods from Oct. 30, less than two weeks before the US midterm elections, while imposing tariffs on several other products.
The White House said exemptions would cover plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery, refrigeration equipment, and some packing crates and boxes. Carpets and some waste products will face new tariffs, while Bloomberg reported that Canadian coffins and canoes would remain subject to a 50% levy.
Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who is seeking re-election in a close race, announced the exemptions and said she had repeatedly pressed senior administration officials for relief. Collins said the affected products were important to Maine producers of blueberries, potatoes, apples and seaweed. Her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, accused her of enabling President Donald Trump’s trade policies and then seeking credit for limited relief.
The United States imposed a 50% tariff on about $20 billion of Canadian goods after bilateral trade talks collapsed in August. Canada responded with countermeasures, including tariffs that Prime Minister Mark Carney said matched the US duties “dollar for dollar.”
The White House said the latest changes were part of Trump’s efforts to protect US workers and address what it called Canada’s discriminatory treatment of American commerce. Canadian Internal Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Canada was assessing the measures and remained willing to pursue a mutually beneficial trading relationship.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 1 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 78 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 26
- Source articles
- 27
- Given to the writer
- 8, 1 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 78 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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