Trump drops some Canada tariffs in bid to boost embattled Susan Collins in Maine
News Source
β’Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:03:07 GMT
π° What Happened
The White House has dropped some tariffs on Canadian goods to help Senator Susan Collins in her tight re-election race in Maine. The exemptions cover nine farm products, including blueberries, potatoes, apples and seaweed.
Collins said Maine's farmers rely on Canadian equipment and materials that US suppliers cannot replace cheaply. Some processing supplies, such as plywood sheets, packing boxes and certain machinery, were also removed from the tariff list.
π The Backstory
Trump's trade war with Canada has hit Maine hard, because logging, lobstering and fishing all depend on cross-border trade. Canada put its own tariffs on $20bn of US goods after Trump set a 50 percent tariff on some Canadian products in August.
Collins has served nearly 30 years and faces Democrat Troy Jackson, a former logger. The race is rated a toss-up and could decide which party controls the Senate.
π― Why It Matters
Tariffs show up in shop prices, so relief for farm goods can mean cheaper food. The timing also shows how elections can bend trade policy.
The White House has dropped some tariffs on Canadian goods to help Senator Susan Collins in her tight re-election race in Maine. The exemptions cover nine farm products, including blueberries, potatoes, apples and seaweed.
Collins said Maine's farmers rely on Canadian equipment and materials that US suppliers cannot replace cheaply. Some processing supplies, such as plywood sheets, packing boxes and certain machinery, were also removed from the tariff list.
Trump's trade war with Canada has hit Maine hard, because logging, lobstering and fishing all depend on cross-border trade. Canada put its own tariffs on $20bn of US goods after Trump set a 50 percent tariff on some Canadian products in August.
Collins has served nearly 30 years and faces Democrat Troy Jackson, a former logger. The race is rated a toss-up and could decide which party controls the Senate.
Tariffs show up in shop prices, so relief for farm goods can mean cheaper food. The timing also shows how elections can bend trade policy.