Latest Developments

The White House officially issued a proclamation on Friday (10/23/2026) U.S. time lifting the 50 percent tariff on certain agricultural and forestry products from Canada, according to a document published on the White House website and reported by The Wall Street Journal. The tariff change takes effect on October 30, 2026.

The exempted products cover five main groups: plywood sheets, certain paper products, certain machinery and refrigeration equipment, crates and packaging boxes, and fresh and dried seaweed — according to a White House document cited by WSJ. In her statement, Collins named nine product categories she fought for, including agricultural machinery, refrigeration equipment, packaging products, and goods used in food production, with blueberry, potato, apple, and seaweed producers among the beneficiaries. Collins said she had repeatedly requested tariff relief and emphasized the burden of additional costs borne by businesses and families in Maine.

As an adjustment, the new 50 percent tariff applies to a range of other Canadian goods — including carpets, certain valves, and waste products. The adjustment keeps the total value of Canadian goods hit by the 50 percent tariff at around US$20 billion, meaning the overall trade-war pressure has not eased.

This step is explicitly intended to help Collins and a number of Republican candidates in the northern border states hardest hit by the trade war, ahead of the US congressional midterm elections on November 3, 2026. Collins is in a tight race against Democrat Troy Jackson, who has made Trump's trade war with Canada a central campaign issue.

WSJ Report Triggered the Proclamation

A Wall Street Journal report published Friday (10/23/2026) served as the official trigger: President Donald Trump's administration issued a proclamation revoking the 50 percent tariff on certain agricultural and forestry products from Canada, with the change taking effect October 30, 2026. The tariff reduction was offset by an increase in levies on other Canadian products, according to a White House document cited by WSJ.

A White House official previously said any tariff announcement would come directly from the administration and that preliminary reports were merely speculation; the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative declined to comment. Now the official proclamation has replaced that speculation.

Political Payback for Collins

This move is aimed at helping Collins and a number of Republican candidates in northern border states hit hardest by the trade war, ahead of the November 3, 2026 midterm elections. Collins, who is running for a sixth term, is in a tight race against Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine, which leans Democratic.

Jackson made Trump's trade war with Canada a central issue in his campaign, given that Maine's economy relies heavily on trade with Canada, from auto parts and lumber to fruit-picking equipment. Michigan and Maine are both battleground states in the fight for control of the U.S. Senate.

Collins' criticism of the 50 percent tariff is something he has voiced for a long time. He warned that a trade war could threaten thousands of jobs in the state.

Tariff War Since August

The trade dispute began in late August 2026 when the White House invoked Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, known as Smoot-Hawley, to penalize Canadian imports. A 50 percent tariff was imposed on approximately US$20 billion worth of Canadian goods, and Ottawa retaliated with countermeasures and threats of additional tariffs on automobiles.

Last month, the US exempted some products but at the same time raised tariffs on others, leaving the total trade affected nearly unchanged. The planned tariff overhaul now comes amid growing pushback, including a lawsuit this week from a New Jersey food importer challenging the legality of using Smoot-Hawley authority for the levies.

Response and Subsequent Impact

With the proclamation now officially issued, this tariff relief is no longer speculation. However, the White House continues to balance it with a new 50 percent tariff on other Canadian goods, leaving the total volume of affected trade nearly unchanged — the same pattern as last month's overhaul.

The November 3, 2026 special election will be the real test: the Kalshi prediction market puts the Democrats' chances of sweeping Congress at 67 percent, a figure that explains the political urgency behind this move. For Indonesia, this development serves as a barometer of US trade protectionism tensions, which also affect global commodity markets. The editorial team will monitor Ottawa's response and the realization of the policy effective October 30.