The Trump administration is exempting a broad list of Canadian agricultural products from tariffs in a last-minute bid to provide relief to American farmers ahead of the midterm elections.
The move follows lobbying by Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican who is facing a close re-election bid in her state. The tariffs that are being lifted apply to Canadian products such as corrugated paper, refrigeration equipment and packing machinery, items that are widely used by farmers and growers in Maine. They currently face 50 percent tariffs, which Mr. Trump slapped on a variety of Canadian goods in July.
“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,” Ms. Collins said in a post on social media. “I will continue working directly with Administration officials to seek additional relief and encourage a broader trade agreement with Canada, our neighbor, ally, and largest trading partner.”
Ms. Collins said the exemptions would help her state’s blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The president’s trade spat with Canada began shortly after he returned to office, when Mr. Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian exports in return for what he claimed was the country’s role in channeling fentanyl to the United States. Mr. Trump has also angered Canadians by repeatedly referring to their country as the 51st state, and threatening to withdraw defensive provisions for Canada.
The tension has devolved into tit-for-tat trade actions that have proved unpopular with many Americans, particularly in states that rely on Canada as their biggest export market.
After Canada refused to fold to some of Mr. Trump’s trade demands, the Trump administration imposed tariffs in August on more than $20 billion of Canadian exports. Canada retaliated with tariffs on hundreds of U.S. products. Then in September, Mr. Trump banned some Canadian products outright, including alcoholic beverages, dairy byproducts and molasses.
Ms. Collins and her Democratic opponent, Troy Jackson, have been deadlocked in recent polls. The loss of Ms. Collins’s seat could tip the Senate in favor of Democrats, upending Mr. Trump’s legislative agenda for the rest of his term. Voters in the state have been frustrated by Mr. Trump’s policies on tariffs, immigration and the war in Iran.
During a debate against Mr. Jackson this month, Ms. Collins defended her record and described herself as the “most outspoken opponent of the tariffs with Canada.” She highlighted her success exempting road salt and cement from the duties.
Mr. Jackson suggested that those efforts were too little and too late.
“Mainers can’t afford to pay their bills with a press release or a strongly worded letter,” he said. “What about everything else? We can’t eat road salt.”
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