Trump administration cancels some Canada tariffs amid close midterm races

The Trump administration on Friday said it had granted tariff exemptions on some Canadian imports, an implicit acknowledgement that President Donald Trump’s signature trade policy could be hurting Republican candidates running in the Nov. 3 midterm election. The canceled tariffs include 50% duties on some agricultural items. These duties were applied to Canadian products after the country withdrew from trade negotiations with the Trump administration in late August. Polls show Democrats have a solid chance to win majorities in both the House and Senate. Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who’s facing a tough re-election battle in Maine, first announced the news on social media: “I am pleased to have secured additional tariff exemptions products crucial to Maine’s agricultural industries, including blueberry, potato, apple, and seaweed producers.” She said that plastic boxes, crates, packing materials, refrigeration equipment, sealing and labeling machinery, packing equipment, film, foil and seaweed products were some of the other products getting exemptions.

A document posted to the White House website confirmed the action, but it said that the administration was also adding tariffs to “certain valves, carpets, waste products” and other items to make up for the duties it was removing. The White House statement said the move aimed to “further refine the scope of the tariffs” applied to Canada. Collins, in her announcement, said that many “farmers