US exempts some Canadian goods from tariffs in bid to aid Republicans before midterms

White House says move aims to protect American workers as trade war with Canada continues

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published23 October 2026

Read Time3 min

The White House has announced it will lift 50% tariffs on certain Canadian goods starting 30 October, exempting products such as plywood, paper products and refrigeration equipment while imposing new levies on other items. The exemptions, first disclosed by Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, come ahead of the 3 November midterm elections and as the US and Canada remain locked in a trade war that began after talks collapsed this summer.

The White House said on Friday it was removing some products from the list of Canadian goods subject to 50% tariffs, including plywood sheets, certain paper products, machinery, refrigeration equipment, and packing crates and boxes. Those items will be replaced with tariffs on certain valves, carpets, waste products and other goods, according to a White House statement.

The White House said the action reflects President Donald Trump's "continued efforts to defend American workers and ensure fair trade", as well as "offsetting the burden and disadvantage on U.S. commerce from Canada's discriminatory treatment".

The exemptions could also boost Republican candidates in the midterm elections, as many US voters list affordability and economic pressures as top issues. Senator Susan Collins, who is in a tight race in Maine to keep her seat, first announced the exemptions, saying they would help her state's agriculture industry.

"Many of our farmers and growers rely on specialized equipment, packaging materials, and other products from Canada that are either unavailable from American suppliers or cannot be replaced without incurring significant expense," Collins posted on X. She said she had worked with the administration to secure "tariff relief" and would seek additional relief and a broader trade agreement with Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday that Canada is open to a mutually beneficial deal but willing to wait. "We could sign it this afternoon if the US were there. If it has to be months from now or longer than that, or another administration, before a proper deal comes into place, we will do that," he said, according to CBC.

Michigan lawmaker Mike Rogers, also a Republican, has called on Trump to end the standoff after spending months supporting the policy in recent advertisements airing in his trade-reliant state.

The Wall Street Journal reported the exemptions were largely focused on Canadian agricultural and forestry products and made in a bid to help Collins and other Republicans. The reductions could be offset by raising levies on other Canadian goods, the Journal reported.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The tariff exemptions signal a potential easing in the US-Canada trade war, which has escalated since talks collapsed in summer 2026, affecting industries and consumers on both sides of the border.
The timing, just days before the US midterm elections, highlights how trade policy is being leveraged to support Republican candidates in states economically tied to Canada, with affordability a top voter concern.
The outcome of these elections could shape future US trade policy and the prospects for a broader deal with Canada, depending on which party controls Congress.

Background

The US and Canada have been in an escalating tariff war since trade talks broke down in summer 2026. The US imposed 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods, and Canada responded with its own retaliatory measures. The exemptions announced Friday are the first major move to roll back some of those tariffs, though they are partially offset by new levies on other Canadian products. Maine and other border states with deep economic links to Canada have felt the effects acutely.

Key Perspectives

White House: says the action reflects President Trump's efforts to defend American workers and ensure fair trade, and offsets the burden on US commerce from Canada's discriminatory treatment. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine): said she secured exemptions for products crucial to Maine's agricultural industries, including blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers, and will push for further relief and a broader trade agreement. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney: says Canada is open to a mutually beneficial deal but willing to wait, even if it takes months or another administration. Representative Mike Rogers (R-Michigan): has called on President Trump to end the trade standoff after previously supporting the tariff policy.

What to Watch

The 3 November midterm elections, which will test whether the tariff relief boosts Senator Collins and other vulnerable Republicans.
Whether further exemptions are announced, and whether Canada responds with any reciprocal measures.
The status of broader trade negotiations; Carney's comments suggest Canada is prepared to wait for a more favorable deal, possibly under a different US administration.

Sources

White House says the US is lifting tariffs on some Canadian goods · BBC News

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe tariff exemptions were made in a bid to help Republicans before the midterms.BBC News: “The Wall Street Journal had reported that the exemptions, largely focused on Canadian agricultural and forestry, were made in a bid to help Collins and other Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.”
SupportedThe White House says the move aims to protect American workers as the trade war with Canada continues.BBC News: “The White House said the action reflects President Trump's "continued efforts to defend American workers and ensure fair trade"”
SupportedThe US will lift some 50% tariffs on Canadian goods starting 30 October.BBC News: “The White House, in a statement, said that starting 30 October the US would remove certain products from the list of Canadian goods it taxes”
Partly supportedThe exemptions include plywood sheets, paper products, machinery, refrigeration equipment, and packing crates and boxes.BBC News: “such as plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery and refrigeration equipment, and certain packing crates and boxes.”
SupportedThe tariff changes replace exempted items with tariffs on other goods, including valves, carpets and waste products.BBC News: “It added those items would be replaced with certain valves, carpets, waste products, among others .”
SupportedThe US-Canada tariff war began after trade talks collapsed this summer.BBC News: “After trade talks collapsed this summer, the US and Canada started an escalating tariff war that has affected both sides of the border.”
SupportedThe White House said the action reflects Trump's “continued efforts to defend American workers and ensure fair trade”.BBC News: “The White House said the action reflects President Trump's "continued efforts to defend American workers and ensure fair trade"”
SupportedCollins said farmers and growers rely on Canadian products that may be unavailable from US suppliers or too costly to replace.BBC News: “"Many of our farmers and growers rely on specialized equipment, packaging materials, and other products from Canada that are either unavailable from American suppliers or cannot be replaced without incurring significant expense,"”
SupportedCarney said the US and Canada could sign a deal that afternoon, or wait months, longer, or for another administration.BBC News: “"We could sign it this afternoon if the US were there. If it has to be months from now or longer than that, or another administration, before a proper deal comes into place, we will do that,"”
SupportedRepublican Mike Rogers called on Trump to end the standoff after months of supporting the policy in advertisements in his trade-reliant state.BBC News: “Michigan lawmaker Mike Rogers, also a Republican, has called on Trump to end the standoff after spending months supporting the policy in recent advertisements airing in his trade-reliant state.”
SupportedThe Wall Street Journal reported that the reductions could be offset by raising levies on other Canadian goods.BBC News: “The reductions could be offset by raising levies on other Canadian goods, the Journal reported.”

Correction

23 October 2026An earlier version of this story changed the White House's quoted wording from "offsetting" to "offset" and presented it as an intention. The statement described the action as offsetting the burden on US commerce.