Nine categories removed from the tariffs

Senator Susan Collins announced on 23 October 2026 that nine categories of Canadian products would be taken out of the 50% US tariffs. Her list includes blueberries, potatoes and apples, along with seaweed and algae products for human consumption. The exemptions also cover paper products, plastic boxes, packing products, and refrigeration and freezing equipment used by Maine's agriculture industry. In a press release, Collins framed the decision as relief for growers and rural and coastal communities.

“These producers are a vital part of our state's economy and support our rural and coastal communities.”

The report behind the announcement

The Wall Street Journal reported on 23 October, citing insiders, that the administration planned to lift 50% tariffs on some Canadian agricultural and forestry products. According to that report, the aim was to help Republicans in northern states ahead of the midterms, and the cuts could be offset by higher duties on other Canadian goods. A White House official told the paper that any tariff announcement would come directly from the government and that preliminary reports amounted to speculation. The White House has also said the removed duties would be replaced by duties on other products, naming valves, carpets and waste products among them. Collins's statement followed shortly after the report.

Midterm race and stalled trade talks

The announcement lands in a tight Maine contest in which Collins faces Democrat Troy Jackson. Republicans will likely need to win Maine and Michigan on 3 November to keep their Senate majority. In Michigan, Republican Mike Rogers, who has distanced himself from Trump's tariff policy, faces Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in a race expected to be close. It remains unclear how much the relief will improve Collins's reelection odds, since Jackson continues to raise tariffs on the campaign trail. Collins had earlier claimed credit for removing tariffs on de-icing salt and cement in September, a step Jackson played down during a debate. Talks between Canada and the US have been stalled since August, and Trump said on 23 October that Canada was working on a trade agreement.

“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.”

Timeline of the dispute

The sequence starts with the failed talks in August, which were followed by the tariff package at the end of that month. In September, duties on de-icing salt and cement were lifted while other Canadian goods faced new charges. The report of 23 October and Collins's exemptions both came less than two weeks before the 3 November vote, and the chart sets out these steps in order.

The offsetting duties have so far been described only by product type, with valves, carpets and waste products named.