US Expected to Remove 50 Percent Tariffs on Some Canadian Goods in Proclamation That Could Come Friday

The United States is expected to remove 50 percent tariffs on some Canadian products, according to people familiar with the upcoming action cited by The Wall Street Journal. Reuters reported at 18:05 UTC on October 23 that the expected move would cover some Canadian agricultural and forestry products in a proclamation that could come as early as Friday, October 23. The removal is not yet in force, and the people cited in the report emphasized that the scope and timing of the action could change.

What the expected proclamation would cover

The proclamation will likely remove 50 percent tariffs on products used in agriculture, according to the report. The tariff reductions could be balanced out by raising levies on other Canadian goods.

After The Wall Street Journal reported the expected action, Senator Susan Collins of Maine issued a statement praising the move and detailing nine categories of tariff exemptions. The categories included certain agricultural machinery, refrigeration equipment, packaging products and other goods used in food production. Bloomberg Tax reported that Collins said the exemptions would apply to certain paper, plastic, machinery and seaweed products, and that they would help the state's rural and coastal economy, including the blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed industries.

"I have asked for tariff relief for these important products and stressed the burdens additional costs impose on Maine businesses and families," Collins said.

"Many of our farmers and growers rely on specialized equipment, packaging materials, and other products from Canada that are either unavailable from American suppliers or cannot be replaced without incurring significant expense," she said.

White House calls early reporting speculation

A White House official said any tariff announcements would come directly from the administration and that any preliminary reporting is speculation. The office of the United States trade representative declined to comment.

"I will continue working directly with Administration officials to seek additional relief from tariffs and encourage a broader trade agreement with Canada, our neighbor, ally, and largest trading partner," she said.

How the Canada tariffs reached this point

In late August 2026, President Donald Trump applied 50 percent tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, about 5 percent of its exports to the United States, after last-minute negotiations broke down. Canada retaliated with tariffs of its own.

The upcoming move would be the second time the administration has altered its 50 percent tariffs on Canada. In September 2026, it removed tariffs from products including road salt and cement, balancing that by applying 50 percent tariffs to other Canadian products and leaving the total affected at about $20 billion.

The 50 percent tariffs were imposed under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. This week a New Jersey-based food importer filed a legal challenge against those tariffs.

The politics in Maine and other trade states

Collins has broken with Trump on tariffs as she tries to secure re-election in Maine, a state heavily reliant on trade with Canada. Her Democratic challenger Troy Jackson has made the trade war with Canada a central issue, and the two are neck-and-neck in the polls in the final week before Election Day.

The alteration could also aid Republican candidates in other trade-reliant states. In Michigan, Republican nominee Mike Rogers has cut ads calling for Trump to end the trade war with Canada. In New Hampshire, former Senator John Sununu has criticized the tariffs in his race against Democrat Chris Pappas.