US exempts some Canadian goods from 50% tariffs and adds others; Carney and Hassett describe trade talks

Changes announced Oct. 23 exempt some Canadian imports from 50% tariffs and add 50% duties on other Canadian products. The changes take effect Oct. 30, according to AP. Days later, Prime Minister Mark Carney and White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett each described the state of trade talks.

What changes. AP reported that the exemptions include plywood sheets, packing crates and some machinery, within the 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products. CBS News, citing a White House proclamation, listed corrugated boxes, crates, plastic sacks, packing machinery, refrigeration equipment and seaweed among the exempted items. CBS said the new 50% duties cover several categories, including shampoo, vinyl flooring, coffins, carpets and window-unit air conditioners. NBC News cited a White House document saying tariffs were also being added on "certain valves, carpets, waste products" and other items.

Explanations and reaction. The White House said the move was meant to offset "the burden to U.S. commerce while better serving the public interest," AP reported. NBC reported that a White House statement said the aim was to "further refine the scope of the tariffs." Sen. Susan Collins said she spoke with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about the effect of tariffs on Maine. NBC noted that her announcement did not name Trump and the White House announcement did not mention her. Sen. Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, called the move an "admission" that voters are rejecting the tariff policy. CBS reported that Democrats criticized the exemptions as politically motivated.

The talks. Carney said Monday that talks with the Trump administration have picked up slightly, AP reported. He said Washington was moving closer to Canada's demands and that Canada's negotiating position was unchanged. He described a "slight, slight intensification" of discussions. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc's office said Canada remains in "constructive dialogue" with Washington. Bloomberg reported that Hassett said negotiations had "picked up" and were "gathering steam," and its headline quoted him saying the talks are "very close" to a deal. AP said Hassett suggested the two countries are close to a deal.

What we don't know yet

• Whether a deal is near. Hassett and Carney described the talks in different terms, and neither directly responded to the other in the sources reviewed.
• The net effect of the tariff changes. Some goods were exempted and others were given 50% duties, and the sources reviewed do not quantify the overall change.
• The complete list of affected products. The details above come from news reports that cite White House documents, and outlets describe the items in different terms.