Trump lifts 50% tariff on some Canadian goods from 30 October after Susan Collins lobbies

The Trump administration will lift its 50% tariff on some Canadian goods from 30 October, the White House said on Friday, less than two weeks before the US midterm elections. The products include "plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery and refrigeration equipment", along with some packing crates and boxes, BBC News reported. At the same time, new tariffs will be put on other Canadian items, including carpets and "waste products".

Collins lobbied for the change

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, in a close race to keep her seat on 3 November, announced the exemptions first. She said the products were "crucial to Maine's agricultural industries, including blueberry, potato, apple, and seaweed producers", and that she had repeatedly asked senior Trump officials for relief. Maine borders the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec.

Her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, was unimpressed: "Susan Collins enabled this chaos, voted to confirm the people behind it, and now wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put out the fire."

White House spokesman Matthew Middleton said the step reflected Trump's efforts "to defend American workers and ensure fair trade" and that the President "continues to address Canada's discriminatory treatment of US commerce".

How the US-Canada trade war got here

$20 billion is about Rs 5.5 lakh crore at today's dollar rate.

Canada's response was guarded. Dominic LeBlanc, the minister for internal trade, said Canada "stands ready to work constructively and in good faith towards a more mutually beneficial trading relationship". Carney said Canada was in no hurry: "We could sign it this afternoon if the US were there. If it has to be months from now or longer than that, or another administration, before a proper deal comes into place, we will do that," CBC quoted him as saying. Trump, for his part, said on Friday that Canada was "working very hard" on a deal.

Why it matters here

Canada is home to a large Pakistani community, and many families here receive money from relatives there. Pakistan's own exports to the US face separate tariff terms and are not affected by this change. For money sent home from Canada, check the currency converter.

This week the US embassy in Ottawa also accused Canada of meddling in the midterms, which Carney denied; read that story.