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Trump eases Canadian tariffs ahead of midterm elections

Two weeks before the US midterm vote, President Trump lifted tariffs on certain Canadian products after a vulnerable Republican senator lobbied for the change.

24 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Trump eases Canadian tariffs ahead of midterm elections — Archive photoPhoto: The Fun Chronicles · Wikimedia Commons · CC0

President Trump's administration removed tariffs on Canadian imports on Friday, according to multiple reports. The easing of duties comes two weeks ahead of the US midterm elections. A White House statement specified that the tariff reductions would apply to products including plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery and refrigeration equipment.

The move followed lobbying by Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine who faces a strong electoral challenge. Collins had said that Maine farmers rely on specialised equipment, packaging materials and other products from Canada that are difficult or expensive to replace with American alternatives. She is described in the reports as a vulnerable candidate in a key Senate race.

The administration will also introduce tariffs on other goods at the same time, including carpets, certain valves and waste products, according to the White House. The new measures are set to take effect on October 30. The United States and Canada have closely connected economies, the material notes.

The tariff adjustment is among several recent policy moves by Trump ahead of the midterms. Earlier, Trump claimed that Iran was intentionally driving up oil prices ahead of the election. His statement came after Iran's state television reported that seven oil tankers caught fire and were damaged after being targeted or striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Iran was making up fake incidents.

The president alleged that Iran was doing all it could to raise oil prices in the run-up to the vote. According to one report, energy exports from the Gulf have declined since February, when US-Israeli strikes on Iran led Tehran to restrict access through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil and gas transit.

Immigration also remains a key issue for voters approaching the midterm elections, according to reporting. The material indicates that ICE arrests and detentions are at their highest levels, and that the immigration issue has shaped campaign discussions in the final weeks before election day.

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