Trump Lifts Tariffs on Certain Canadian Goods Ahead of US Midterm Elections

04:34 PM EDT, 10/23/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US President Donald Trump said Friday afternoon the US is removing 50% Section 338 tariffs on a range of Canadian products, reportedly to help Senator Susan Collins and other Republicans ahead of the midterms. These products include types of seaweed, plastic packaging, plywood, paper and paperboard products, refrigeration equipment, industrial machinery, packaging machinery, and agricultural sorting equipment, according to the White House statement. Earlier Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported the expected move, following which Collins said in an X statement that she is "pleased to have secured additional tariff exemptions products crucial to Maine's agricultural industries, including blueberry, potato, apple, and seaweed producers". The US also added a range of Canadian products to its Section 338 tariffs, subjecting them to a 50% tariff. These include types of cocoa powder, paints, shampoos, soaps, lubricants, chemicals, wood products, carpets, air conditioners, freezers, canoes, and archery equipment.