Trump Exempts Some Canadian Goods From 50% Tariff Ahead of Maine Senate Race

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday exempting certain Canadian agricultural equipment and packaging materials from a 50% tariff, while adding about 100 other product categories to the duty list to keep the overall share of tariffed goods steady. The changes take effect October 30. Exempted items include plywood, some paper products, specific machinery, refrigeration equipment and packing boxes. Newly taxed goods include cocoa powder, shampoo, carpets, canoes and wooden coffins. Sen. Susan Collins, facing Democrat Troy Jackson in a tight re-election race, said the carve-outs cover nine categories of Canadian goods, including corrugated and plastic boxes, packaging bags, refrigeration and freezing equipment, some machinery, and edible seaweed used by Maine farmers. She said she pressed U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for the relief. Trump said the U.S. is close to trade deals with Canada and Mexico. Talks stalled in August after Ottawa recalled its negotiators and Washington raised tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods.