The administration of Donald Trump has announced the cancellation of 50-percent duties on a range of Canadian goods. The changes will take effect on 30 October — just four days before the midterm elections to Congress on 3 November.
The relief covers plywood sheets, certain paper products, some types of machinery and refrigeration equipment, packing crates and boxes, as well as fresh and dried seaweed. At the same time, the White House imposed similar duties on other Canadian items, including carpets, paints, waste, shampoos, cocoa powder, wooden coffins, ice cream sticks, air conditioners, freezers, archery goods and canoes.
The decision is linked to Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine. She is running a tough re-election campaign and had repeatedly asked the administration to ease the tariffs. Collins said the relief would help the state's agriculture — producers of blueberries, potatoes, apples and seaweed.
The initial 50-percent tariffs on Canadian goods worth about 20 billion dollars were introduced after trade talks collapsed in August. Canada responded with mirror measures. Prime Minister Mark Carney called them necessary to protect local workers.
The announcement came less than two weeks before the election that will determine control of Congress for the remaining two years of Trump's presidency. Collins confirmed she would keep pushing for further relief and a broader trade agreement with Canada.
Official White House documents stress that the overall volume of tariffs is maintained through the new items. Analysts note that the move may ease pressure on individual Republican candidates in key states, but does not change the overall protectionist course.
