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The White House said while the tariffs would be lifted on some items, including some packaging boxes and crates, they would be imposed on other items such as carpets and “waste products”.
It said the action reflects President Trump’s “continued efforts to protect American workers and ensure fair trade.”
“President Trump continues to address Canada’s discriminatory treatment of US commerce,” said White House spokesman Matthew Middleton.
In a statement to the BBC, Canada’s internal trade minister Dominic LeBlanc said: “While we assess these latest steps, Canada is ready to work constructively and in good faith towards a more mutually beneficial trade relationship that respects Canada’s interests.”
The White House’s announcement comes less than four weeks before the US midterm elections, which will determine whether Trump’s Republican Party or the Democrats will control Congress, affecting the remaining two years of his term.
Collins said she has repeatedly asked senior Trump officials for tariff relief and that she would “continue to work directly with administration officials to seek additional relief and encourage a broader trade agreement with Canada, our neighbor, ally and largest trading partner.”
She wrote to X that the tariff exemptions were on products that were “crucial to Maine’s agricultural industry, including blueberry, potato, apple, and seaweed producers”.
Collins’ Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, responded: “Trump’s trade wars have made life harder and more expensive for Mainers. Susan Collins enabled this chaos, voted to impeach the people behind it, and now wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put out the fire.”
Maine borders the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec. Its economy, like that of other border states, is deeply tied to Canada and they have felt the effects of the months-long trade war.
Michigan lawmaker Mike Rogers, also a Republican, called on Trump to end the standoff after spending months endorsing the policy in the latest commercials airing in his trade-dependent state.
Also on Friday, President Donald Trump said Canada is “working very hard” on a trade deal with the United States.
Carney, for his part, said Canada was open to a mutually beneficial deal, but was willing to wait.
“We could sign it this afternoon if the United States were there. If it has to be months or longer than that, or another administration, before a real deal comes into place, we will do that,” he said on Friday, according to Canadian broadcaster CBC.
LeBlanc confirmed on Thursday that a delegation met with members of the Canada-United States Economic Relations Advisory Committee – the ninth meeting since April 2026. Committee members discussed the continued impact of US tariffs on Canada.
