Trump plans to drop tariffs on select Canadian goods

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he intends to remove tariffs on a portion of goods imported from Canada. The decision comes one day after former President Barack Obama used a campaign stop in Ohio to ridicule the administration's trade stance.

Speaking to a crowd in Cleveland, Obama targeted the conflict with the United States' northern neighbor. He referred to Canada as a well-known evil empire that started a trade war. He joked that the country gave the U.S. maple syrup and Martin Short, adding that they are the nicest people.

Obama argued that American consumers are currently paying for the higher costs associated with the tariffs. He noted that these rising prices have hurt Republican prospects in the upcoming midterm elections, especially in border states.

The two nations have exchanged retaliatory tariffs since Trump launched his levy campaign last year. The initial measures were designed to combat alleged fentanyl trafficking and correct trade imbalances. Negotiations between the two sides stalled in August.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc told CBC's Power and Politics that Ottawa does not expect a final deal before the Nov. 3 vote. He said the government is not counting on a resolution in time to influence the election outcome.

Trump has frequently referenced Canada in his own campaign stops. At an Oct. 17 event in Highland Heights, Ky., he said the U.S. has lost billions of dollars in the trade relationship. He called former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a loser and described his successor, Mark Carney, as a nice guy who is not nice when it comes to trade.

Trump said the two sides are learning and suffering, but he expects to make an amazing deal at some point. The partial tariff relief signals a shift in tone as the U.S. approaches the midterm elections.