The White House said it was refining the scope of earlier tariff actions to "better serve the public interest" after Trump placed a 50 percent tariff on certain Canadian goods in August. The exemptions cover nine agricultural products including blueberries, potatoes, apples and seaweed, as well as processing equipment such as plywood sheets, packing boxes and machinery that are crucial for Maine businesses operating near the border.
Senator Collins, a Republican who has served in the Senate for nearly 30 years, has frequently broken with Trump on trade policy and has sought relief for the state's farmers, who rely on specialized materials from Canada that are "unavailable from American suppliers or cannot be replaced without incurring significant expense," she said. Collins added that she would continue working with administration officials to seek further relief and encourage a broader trade agreement with Canada.
Collins faces a tight re-election race against Democrat Troy Jackson, a former logger and state senator. The race is considered a toss-up and is crucial for Democratic hopes of flipping control of the Senate. Jackson has criticised Collins for her vote to confirm conservative Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and for failing to stop Trump's trade policies. At a recent debate, Jackson said, "Tonight is about who you stand with when it matters."
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the tariffs have hurt both countries, noting that auto exports to the US have fallen 10 percent and US exports to Canada have fallen more than 20 percent. "US tariffs have upended a trade bargain that's existed for decades," Carney said. Canada retaliated with its own tariffs on $20 billion of American goods but later withdrew tariffs on American seafood, which helped Maine's fisheries.