Washington has dropped tariffs on a batch of Canadian goods, a partial truce in a trade dispute that has weighed on both economies. The exemptions cover certain pulp and paper products and the machines used to make them, along with plywood. Canada's forest products industry had pressed hard for relief, since export duties cut straight into thin processing margins. Canadian trade officials have spent months asking for carve-outs, arguing the taxes inflated costs on both sides of the border. US buyers of paper and construction materials felt the squeeze as well, given how much of their supply comes from Canadian mills. Ottawa will likely read the move as a sign that negotiations are advancing, even though most of the tariff wall still stands. For now, companies in the affected sectors get breathing room to plan shipments and pricing without the added duty. Both governments have reasons to keep the list of exemptions growing as talks continue.