With the November 3 midterm elections approaching, U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to lift the 50% high-tariff measures on certain Canadian products.

This move is interpreted as a strategic effort to support Republican candidates, particularly as tight races unfold in states heavily reliant on trade with Canada, such as Maine.

The White House announced on the 23rd (local time) that President Trump signed a proclamation adjusting the 50% tariffs on select Canadian goods.

Accordingly, items such as plywood, certain paper products, specific machinery and refrigeration equipment, and packaging boxes will be exempt from the tariffs. Meanwhile, some valves, carpets, and waste-related products will be newly added to the tariff list. The revised tariff measures are set to take effect on the 30th.

Earlier this summer, trade negotiations between the U.S. and Canada broke down, leading the Trump administration to impose a 50% tariff on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. Canada responded with retaliatory tariffs, deepening trade tensions between the two neighboring countries.

Prior to the announcement, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that the Trump administration planned to eliminate the 50% tariffs on certain Canadian products to support Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who is running for re-election.

In Maine, which heavily depends on trade with Canada, Senator Collins had continuously requested relief from the burdens that tariffs placed on local industries and consumers. Her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, has made Trump’s trade war with Canada a core campaign issue. The two candidates have been locked in a tight race in the polls ahead of the election.

In a statement released that day, Senator Collins said, "Many farms in Maine rely on specialized Canadian equipment and packaging materials that are either unavailable in the U.S. or cannot be replaced without significant cost."

She added that she had been urging the Trump administration to ease tariffs on these products, and pledged to push for additional tariff relief in the future while urging the conclusion of a comprehensive trade agreement with Canada.

The WSJ noted that this measure could also provide a boost to Republican candidates in states with high trade volumes with Canada, such as Michigan and New Hampshire.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]