Illustrative image: blueberry barrens at Kennebunk Plains Preserve, Maine. Photo: Mark Olsen / Unsplash (Unsplash License).
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, October 23, signed an order removing the 50% tariffs on nine categories of Canadian products that Maine’s farm and forestry businesses rely on, a limited easing of the trade dispute with Canada that comes less than two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections.
What changes
According to the White House statement, as reported by Reuters, the exemptions take effect on October 30 and cover items including plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery, refrigeration equipment, and packing crates and boxes. Infobae reported that the products were chosen because Maine producers of blueberries, potatoes, apples and seaweed depend on them and have no viable U.S. substitute, or can only replace them at a significant extra cost.
The relief is not one-way. The White House said it would add other Canadian goods, including certain valves, carpets and waste products, to the list subject to tariffs, describing the change as an effort to “further refine the scope of the tariffs.”
The politics behind it
The decision followed pressure from Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins, who is in a close re-election race against Democrat Troy Jackson. Collins said the exemptions came from direct talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and other senior officials, and that she would keep pushing for more. She said many Maine farmers rely on specialized equipment and packaging from Canada.
Jackson replied that “Trump’s trade wars have made life harder and more expensive for Mainers” and accused Collins of enabling them. A poll taken October 16–20 showed the two tied at 49%, Infobae reported. Republicans hold 53 of the Senate’s 100 seats, so the Maine race could help decide control of the chamber.
Where U.S.–Canada trade stands
Trump imposed 50% tariffs on about USD 20 billion worth of Canadian imports in August after negotiations between the two countries broke down, and the talks have been stalled since. On Friday Trump said Canada is “working very hard” on a trade agreement. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said: “We could sign it this afternoon if the US were there.”
The BBC, Reuters, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, NBC News and Politico all reported the move, according to a comparison by Newscord, and Infobae led its front page with it.
Confirmed: the signed order, the October 30 start date and the main product categories. Pending: the full official list of the nine categories, the value of trade affected, and any formal response from Ottawa. The broader dispute remains unresolved.
Sources
- Infobae — Donald Trump eliminó aranceles del 50% a nueve categorías de productos canadienses (Oct 23, 2026)
- Newscord — White House lifts 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods, exemptions start October 30 (comparison of 8 outlets, incl. Reuters and BBC)
- CNBC — Trump dropping some Canada tariffs but ‘replacing’ them with other products (Oct 23, 2026)
Mary del Castillo · Americas · Virtual editorial byline
English adaptation: Lin Wei · Editorial direction: Leonidas Ferraz · October 23, 2026 · AI-assisted writing
