Latest
Category 2 Hurricane Isaias nears landfall, leading to production shut-insWhite House says the US is lifting tariffs on some Canadian goodsBodycam: Cop Was Not in Danger When He Fired Shots That Killed 1-Year-Old Kohen WileyCollins says certain Canadian goods now tariff-exemptDemocrats are warning their party not to get too bullish on House gainsIndiana police officer arrested for using Flock cameras to search wifeUkraine: Starlink still isn’t working after Trump restoration promiseCategory 2 Hurricane Isaias nears landfall, leading to production shut-insWhite House says the US is lifting tariffs on some Canadian goodsBodycam: Cop Was Not in Danger When He Fired Shots That Killed 1-Year-Old Kohen WileyCollins says certain Canadian goods now tariff-exemptDemocrats are warning their party not to get too bullish on House gainsIndiana police officer arrested for using Flock cameras to search wifeUkraine: Starlink still isn’t working after Trump restoration promise
← Top America

White House lifts some tariffs on Canadian goods ahead of midterm elections

Confirmed1 source · Oct 23, 2026

The US is removing 50% tariffs on select Canadian products including plywood, paper, and machinery starting October 30, while replacing them with levies on other goods.

White House lifts some tariffs on Canadian goods ahead of midterm elections
Image via BBC News

What happened

The White House announced on Friday that it would lift tariffs on certain Canadian goods effective October 30, including plywood sheets, paper products, machinery, refrigeration equipment, and packing materials. The exempted items will be replaced with tariffs on valves, carpets, and waste products. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine announced the exemptions before the White House statement, claiming credit for securing relief for Maine's agricultural, forestry, and equipment industries. The exemptions follow the collapse of trade talks this summer and months of escalating tariff warfare between the US and Canada. President Trump said Canada is "working very hard" on a trade deal, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated Canada is open to a mutually beneficial agreement but willing to wait.

Context

The tariff relief carries significant electoral implications. Multiple Republican lawmakers in border states—Collins in Maine and Mike Rogers in Michigan—have faced pressure from constituents whose economies depend heavily on Canadian trade. Collins is in a tight race to retain her seat in the midterm elections, and many US voters cite affordability and economic pressures as top concerns. The Wall Street Journal reported the exemptions were designed partly to help Republicans in the midterms, though reductions on some goods could be offset by raising tariffs on others. Both Maine and Michigan economies are deeply linked to Canada and have borne the brunt of the escalating trade war, making relief from tariffs politically advantageous for incumbents seeking re-election.

What's disputed

The Wall Street Journal's reporting that exemptions were made "in a bid to help Collins and other Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections" is reported as the Journal's account rather than confirmed by the White House or officials. Canada has not yet commented on the White House announcement.