By Meredith Thibodeau
OTTAWA — The Trump administration on Friday reshuffled the list of Canadian goods hit with 50% tariffs, dropping plywood, some paper products and certain machinery while adding valves, carpets and waste products, as Global Affairs Canada ordered its diplomats in the United States to steer clear of candidates in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
The changes take effect Oct. 30, four days before Americans vote.
What changed
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 removing “plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery and refrigeration equipment, and certain packing crates and boxes” from the tariff list and “replacing those products with certain valves, carpets, waste products, and others,” according to a White House fact sheet. The tariffs apply whether or not goods qualify under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
White House spokesman Matthew Middleton said the move answers what the administration calls Canadian retaliation. “The President is taking action in response to Canada’s continued discrimination against and additional retaliation targeting U.S. commerce, with the goal of protecting American farmers, manufacturers, and workers,” he told CNBC. “This administration will continue to use every available tool to restore reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships and safeguard the economic prosperity and national security of the American people.”
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who is seeking reelection, said she had pressed for exemptions on nine categories of products important to Maine farmers. “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 in a release quoted by CNBC.
Ottawa’s response
Canada’s minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, Dominic LeBlanc, said Ottawa was assessing the measures. “While we assess these latest steps, Canada stands ready to work constructively and in good faith towards a more mutually beneficial trading relationship that respects Canada’s interests,” read a Government of Canada statement sent to CityNews.
Derek Nighbor, president and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada, said the shuffle offers little. “Moving a limited number of forest products off one tariff list while adding even more does not amount to relief,” he said.
Diplomats told to keep their distance
Separately, Glen Linder, Global Affairs Canada’s assistant deputy minister for the Americas, sent a memo Tuesday directing Canadian diplomats in the U.S. not to meet with or attend events with midterm candidates, The Canadian Press reported. If diplomats find themselves “in the same physical space” as a candidate, they are to avoid being photographed or named in public materials.
“Especially in view of heightened sensitivity, we need to take our obligation of non-partisanship extremely seriously and take a very risk-averse approach,” the memo says.
The directive followed a U.S. Embassy in Ottawa post listing quotes from Canadian politicians that it said indicated “plans to influence American politics.” The post ended: “Americans decide America’s elections.” U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra has warned Canadian politicians to keep their “nose out” of the midterms.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday that it was the United States that started the trade actions. “All of our actions are in the interests of Canadian workers, Canadian families and the future of this economy,” he said. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, also quoted by the embassy, said he has “no interest at all” in interfering in American elections.
The view from Western New York
For Buffalo and Niagara businesses that buy Canadian components or ship across the Peace Bridge and Lewiston-Queenston crossings, the new list means another round of tariff-code checks before Oct. 30. Canada’s chief trade negotiator to the U.S., Janice Charette, said Thursday that Canada would keep making its case regardless of the midterm result. “Canada will continue to work to try to put our best foot forward and make the best case for Canada,” she said.
The Buffalo Chronicle has requested comment from Global Affairs Canada and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on which valve and carpet categories are affected.
Leave a Reply