With the November 3 midterm elections just days away, President Donald Trump has ordered tariff relief for Canada — a move widely read as a lifeline for embattled Maine Senator Susan Collins, whose re-election race could decide control of the Senate. On Friday, Trump signed an order removing 50% tariffs on some Canadian agricultural and forestry products, effective October 30 — four days before Election Day — while quietly adding a new batch of Canadian goods to the tariff list to offset the cuts.
What the Order Does
Trump's order exempts plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery and refrigeration equipment, packing crates and boxes, and fresh and dried seaweed from the 50% tariffs, the White House said. At the same time, the administration added a number of other Canadian products to the 50% tariff list to offset the relief — including carpets, paints, waste, shampoos, cocoa powder, wooden coffins, ice cream sticks, air-conditioning machines, chest freezers, archery equipment and canoes. The Wall Street Journal first reported the move on Friday.
Why Maine — and Collins — Matter
Collins, a moderate Republican, had been urging the White House to address tariffs on products affecting Maine companies and farmers. The border state is heavily reliant on trade with Canada, and Trump's trade war has hammered its businesses. Collins said the relief would aid Maine's blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers: "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."
Her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, has made the trade war a central issue in the campaign — he mocked the administration's earlier tariff exemptions during an October 6 debate, saying Maine residents "can't eat road salt." Polls show the two neck-and-neck heading into the final week before Election Day.
The Bigger Trade Picture
Trump imposed 50% tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods in late August — about 5% of Canada's exports to the US — after last-minute trade negotiations broke down. Canada retaliated with tariffs of its own, and the US has since banned imports of certain Canadian products while threatening to double tariffs on Canadian vehicles in January if no agreement is reached. Canada has entered a technical recession this year after two consecutive quarters of contraction, with roughly 70% of its exports heading to the US. In a parallel move, the US House has voted to overturn Trump's tariffs on Canada, with six Republicans joining Democrats to back the resolution.
Takeaway
Tariff relief four days before the midterms is a nakedly political play — one that hands Collins a tangible win in a race that could determine Senate control. Whether voters see it as genuine relief or election-eve theater may decide one of the year's closest Senate contests.
Watch: Times Now reports on Trump's Canada tariff cuts ahead of the midterms
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Movement Proposition (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0
Sources: The Wall Street Journal, CNA, Deccan Herald, Times Now