Maine senator secures tariff exemption for Canadian rock salt and cement

The Trump administration confirmed that, starting Sept. 15, Canadian rock salt and cement will no longer be subject to U.S. import tariffs, a change attributed to lobbying by Maine Senator Susan Collins. Collins told officials at the U.S. Trade Representative’s office and the Commerce Department that the two commodities are essential for Maine’s infrastructure and industry, noting that Frenchville could face $10,000 in added costs and a cement plant could lose $150,000 each month.

In return, the administration imposed new duties on all-terrain vehicles, selected cheeses and motorboats. Collins previously welcomed Canada’s decision to drop seafood tariffs that threatened Maine’s lobster sector. She emphasized the close economic ties between the two border states and warned that broader tariffs would hurt families, small manufacturers and farmers in Maine. The move may also bolster Collins’s prospects in the upcoming mid-term elections.