Why this small New Brunswick island is exempt from Canada’s counter-tariffs

Campobello Island is only accessible year-round by a bridge connecting it to the U.S., and residents who rely on U.S. goods have faced Canadian tariffs since early March.

Ottawa has exempted a small New Brunswick island off the coast of Maine from Canadian counter-tariffs it imposed on U.S. goods amid President Donald Trump’s trade war — goods the island’s residents rely on for their daily needs.

Campobello Island is only accessible year-round by a bridge connecting it to the closest town, Lubec, Maine.

Because of its geography, the island’s population of under 1,000 people often travel across the border for gas, groceries and other items, but have faced 25 per cent tariffs on those goods since early March.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, who is running for re-election as the Liberal candidate in Saint Maurice-Champlain, said Tuesday that the federal government has granted a “special exemption from previous tariff countermeasures on U.S. consumer and household products” to the island’s residents.

A statement from the Ministry of Finance said the exemption “is in recognition of the island’s unique situation.”

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt welcomed news of the exemption in a post on social media.

“We’ve been actively working with the federal government to recognize Campobello’s unique position given that it’s only accessible by road via the United States year-round,” Holt said.

“A huge thank you to everyone who helped ensure residents can now access essentials tariff-free.”