Maine Senator lobbies, saves Canadian rock salt and cement from import tariff list

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsCanada Maine Senator lobbies, saves Canadian rock salt and cement from import tariff list The Trump administration agreed to swap these items for new duties on all-terrain vehicles, certain cheeses, and motorboats Author of the article: By Stewart Lewis Published Sep 09, 2026 Last updated 3 hours ago 3 minute read Join the conversation In a 2025 floor speech, Maine Senator Susan Collins cited a range of Maine industries that would be harmed by tariffs. (File photo) Article content The Trump administration has announced that Canadian road salt and cement will be removed from import tariffs as of Sept. 15., earning the gratitude of Maine’s Republican senator, Susan Collins. Article content U.S. communities that share the border with Canada rely heavily on Canadian rock salt to keep winter roads safe, according to Maine TV news station WABI. Article content Article content Collins, a five-term incumbent, says exempting those two items was something she lobbied for, reports the news outlet. Article content Article content “I appreciate the Administration’s announcement that it will exempt road salt and cement from U.S. tariffs. In my communication with (U.S. Trade Representative Jamison) Greer and (Commerce Secretary Howard) Lutnick, I focused on road salt and cement as two products crucial to Maine that would be severely affected by these tariffs,” she said. Article content NP Posted Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Collins explained that Frenchville, a small Maine town on the Canadian border, would incur U.S.$10,000 in extra costs for road salt. And one Maine cement company owner would pay U.S.$150,000 each month because of the tariff. Article content The Trump administration agreed to swap Canadian rock salt and cement for new duties on all-terrain vehicles, certain cheeses, and motorboats, reports WABI. Article content Meanwhile, in an August 27 statement, Collins expressed her appreciation for Canada’s decision to remove seafood and fish products from its retaliatory tariff list. “These tariffs would have caused tremendous harm to Maine’s lobstermen, disrupting one of their most important markets during…