US exempts nine Canada product categories, Collins says

Senator Susan Collins announced on Friday that nine categories of products crucial to Maine's agricultural industries will be exempted from United States tariffs on Canada, covering corrugated cartons, plastic crates and packing bags, refrigeration equipment, farm machinery and seaweed products for human consumption.

Why it matters: The exemptions are a second adjustment to the 50 percent tariffs the United States imposed on about $20 billion of Canadian goods in August, and they land less than two weeks before midterm elections in which the Canada trade war is a central issue in Collins's re-election race in Maine.

Data as of October 23, 2026, 14:38 ET: Senator Collins's announcement of October 23, 2026, read in full on her Senate website, is the primary source for the nine exempted categories and her talks with Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The Wall Street Journal had reported earlier on Friday, via investingLive, that a proclamation removing the 50 percent tariffs on certain agricultural and forestry products could come as early as Friday, that scope and timing could change, and that cuts could be offset by higher tariffs on other Canadian goods; the White House called the reports speculation. No proclamation text had been published as of this item. Developing item.

Senator Susan Collins announced on Friday that nine categories of products crucial to Maine’s agricultural industries will be exempted from United States tariffs on Canada, after her continued conversations with administration officials including Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The categories are corrugated paper and paperboard cartons, plastic boxes, cases and crates, plastic packing bags and sacks, refrigeration and freezing equipment, agricultural cleaning, sorting and grading machinery, filling, sealing, closing and labelling machinery, packing and wrapping machinery, non-adhesive plates, sheets, film, foil and strip, and seaweed and algae products for human consumption, inputs that Maine’s blueberry, potato and apple growers rely on for harvesting and bringing produce to market.

The announcement expands exemptions Collins had already secured for pulp, road salt and cement. The Wall Street Journal had reported earlier on Friday that the administration was expected to remove the 50 percent tariffs on certain agricultural and forestry products, possibly balanced by higher levies on other Canadian goods, and the White House had called the reports speculation; the list Collins announced is narrower than that reporting suggested, centred on farm inputs and packaging rather than the produce itself.

US exempts nine Canada product categories, Collins says

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