The Canadian government removed seafood and fish products from its planned retaliatory tariffs on American goods late Wednesday, citing industry feedback and concerns about wider economic damage.
Canada’s Department of Finance announced the exemption in a statement, saying the decision would help “protect against broader economic harms” as trade tensions between the United States and its northern neighbor continue.
Canada’s counter-tariffs are scheduled to take effect Sept. 8, after President Donald Trump’s 50% import taxes on $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods began last Saturday.
Beginning the day after Labor Day, Canada will impose tariffs of 15%, 25% and 50% on selected American products. The Canadian government has said each rate will match the tariff imposed by the Trump administration on corresponding Canadian goods.
The American tariffs cover Canadian products including wine, hockey sticks, cement, natural honey and wallpaper. Canada’s retaliatory measures will target steel, dairy products, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper goods and electronics, according to the Department of Finance.
Canada also added copper wire and wood charcoal to the list of American products facing 50% tariffs, Bloomberg reported. The Finance Department added both categories Wednesday.
Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne told reporters Thursday that seafood and fish were exempted following consultations with the country’s fishing industry.
The reversal also came after the Maine Lobstermen’s Association warned against Canada’s proposed 25% tariff on American lobster. The group said Canadian companies purchase approximately half of Maine’s lobster during the fall fishing season.
Patrice McCarron, the association’s executive director, welcomed Canada’s decision to remove the tariff.
“Keeping seafood tariff-free protects our shared supply chain and avoids unnecessary economic harm on both sides of the border,” McCarron said in a Thursday statement.
McCarron thanked Canadian officials for listening to concerns raised by members of the seafood industry. She also called on both governments to preserve the longstanding tariff-free lobster trade, saying it benefits fishermen, businesses and coastal communities across North America.
Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins also praised the decision.
“I very much appreciate Canada’s decision to remove seafood and fish products from its retaliatory tariff list,” Collins wrote on X.
Collins warned that the tariffs would have inflicted “tremendous harm” on Maine’s lobster industry by disrupting one of its most important markets during the fall season.
The Maine Republican, who is facing a difficult reelection contest against Democrat Troy Jackson, urged the Trump administration to respond to Canada’s exemption by reopening negotiations.
Collins called the Canadian move a “show of good faith” and said American officials should return to the negotiating table to resolve the expanding trade dispute between the two countries.
