U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced on Friday that the Trump administration will drop 50% tariffs on nine categories of Canadian products, including seaweed and several items used by Maine fruit farmers. The tariffs will be removed from paperboard cartons, plastic crates, plastic bags, refrigeration equipment, agricultural sorting machinery, and non-adhesive foil. Ms. Collins had previously succeeded in getting tariffs lifted on Canadian road salt and other goods, though the administration later imposed tariffs on other products to maintain the total amount.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has given Stelco’s U.S. owner, Cleveland-Cliffs, a 15-day deadline to honor its job commitments or face potential legal action. The letter, sent to Stelco president Paul Simon, outlines multiple alleged violations of legally binding commitments following plans to lay off up to 500 Ontario workers. The conflict between Cleveland-Cliffs and Ottawa has been ongoing, with the federal government accusing the steelmaker of breaching a promise to maintain unionized employment levels in Canada for five years.
Canada’s official maple syrup reserve is nearly depleted due to surging demand, with supplies at their lowest level in over a decade. The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (PPAQ) warned that the reserve’s three warehouses in Quebec will be empty by the end of February. Simon Doré-Ouellet, deputy director-general at PPAQ, stated that bulk buyers and processors are purchasing higher volumes to meet consumer demand, leaving little syrup in reserve.
Ottawa is investing heavily in critical minerals mining projects to bolster Canada’s economy, but many of these early-stage ventures carry significant financial risks. Mining correspondent Niall McGee examined several government-backed projects involving minerals like graphite, palladium, dysprosium, and terbium. Many of these projects are led by junior companies rather than established mining firms, raising concerns about their viability and the potential payoff for taxpayers.