Trump Signs Proclamation Reshaping Canada Tariffs: Some Goods Exempt From October 30, Others Added to 50% List

President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation modifying the 50% additional duties on Canadian products, effective for goods entered on or after October 30, 2026. The White House said plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery, refrigeration equipment and packing crates and boxes come off the list, while certain valves, carpets and waste products are added. The move follows Senator Susan Collins's announcement of exemptions for Maine farm producers, and comes as Trump said Canada is 'working very hard' on a trade deal — while Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada could sign 'this afternoon' if the US were ready, but is prepared to wait.

Awaaz Punjab Investigations Desk23 October 20263 min readRead in all 3 languages

WASHINGTON, October 23 — President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation modifying the scope of Canadian products subject to the additional 50 percent ad valorem duties first imposed under Proclamation 11048 of July 20, 2026, the White House proclamation dated October 23, 2026 states. The changes take effect for goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on October 30, 2026.

Source: The White House — Presidential Proclamation, October 23, 2026

Under the proclamation, certain products of Canada listed in Annex I, Part A will no longer be subject to the additional 50 percent duty, while certain other products listed in Annex I, Part B will become subject to it. The White House said the products coming off the list include plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery, refrigeration equipment, and packing crates and boxes, while certain valves, carpets and waste products are being added, according to NewsCentral TV's report of the White House announcement.

Source: NewsCentral TV — Trump Lifts Some Canada Tariffs Before Midterms

The formal signing confirms and completes the move reported earlier on Friday, when the Wall Street Journal reported — via Reuters — that exemptions were expected for some Canadian agricultural and forestry goods, and Senator Susan Collins of Maine announced that nine categories, including blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers, would be exempt. Collins, who is seeking a sixth Senate term in the November 3 midterms, said she had secured the additional exemptions for products crucial to Maine's agricultural industries.

Source: Reuters via Cruisin' 929 — Trump says Canada 'working very hard' to make a deal

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump said Canada is 'working very hard to make a deal with us' and added, 'we have all the cards,' Reuters reported. A spokesperson for Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's minister responsible for trade with the US, declined to comment, Reuters said.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada remained open to a mutually beneficial agreement but was prepared to wait. 'We could sign it this afternoon if the US were there. If it has to be months from now or longer than that, or another administration, before a proper deal comes into place, we will do that,' Carney said, according to CBC as reported by NewsCentral TV and the BBC.

The duties stem from Trump's finding in Proclamation 11048 that Canada's motor vehicle tariff scheme discriminates against US commerce. A temporary suspension in August lapsed on August 22, 2026 after, in the proclamation's words, Canada 'reneged on its commitment' and ceased negotiating in good faith — a characterisation Ottawa has disputed in the wider trade dispute, in which talks broke down in August and both sides imposed tariffs and retaliation. The new proclamation says senior officials advised that modifying the product scope would still offset the burden on US commerce and better serve the public interest.

For Canadian exporters and for Punjabi and other diaspora businesses that move goods across the Canada–US border, the October 30 change means some product lines regain relief from the 50 percent levy while others lose it. The full product lists are set out in Annex I and Annex II of the proclamation, and US Customs and Border Protection is authorised to issue implementing guidance.

Sources

The White House — Proclamation 'Further Modifying the Scope of Products of Canada...' signed Oct 23, 2026, effective Oct 30, 2026 — https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/10/further-modifying-the-scope-of-products-of-canada-subject-to-the-additional-duties-imposed-to-offset-canadian-discrimination-against-the-commerce-of-the-united-states-with-respect-to-motor-vehicles/

NewsCentral TV (Oct 23, 2026, 20:48 UTC) — Trump Lifts Some Canada Tariffs Before Midterms; White House list details, Collins and Carney (CBC/BBC) — https://newscentraltv.com/trump-lifts-some-canada-tariffs-before-midterms/

Reuters (Oct 23, 2026) via Cruisin' 929 — Trump: Canada 'working very hard' to make a deal; LeBlanc spokesperson declined comment — https://cruisin929.com/2026/10/23/trump-says-canada-working-very-hard-to-make-a-deal-with-us/

Update justification: earlier story usa-canada-tariffs-nine-categories-exempt (Oct 23, 16:18 EDT) reported the exemption as EXPECTED with 'no proclamation published'; the signed proclamation + Oct 30 effective date + swapped product lists + Carney response are a major new development.