Canada’s Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and his U.S. counterpart are working towards presenting a potential trade agreement to President Donald Trump by Monday. Sources familiar with the situation revealed that the aim is to deliver the joint proposal to Trump ahead of his tariff deadline to allow ample time for his decision-making process.
LeBlanc recently met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for the third time in three weeks in Washington. Following their meeting, both LeBlanc and Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, refrained from commenting on the discussions with reporters. The meeting between LeBlanc and Greer lasted approximately an hour.
While efforts are being made to prevent new tariffs on Canadian imports, LeBlanc and Charette are also seeking relief from the sectoral tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Canadian steel, aluminum, lumber, and autos. Additionally, Canada is hopeful that ongoing trade talks will lead to an extension of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) after the Trump administration declined to renew the deal in July.
The U.S. administration cited various trade issues, including Canada’s response to U.S. trade policies, as reasons for imposing the upcoming tariffs. These actions have led to significant drops in exports of alcohol to Canada from the U.S. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the targeted goods under the new tariffs represent about five percent of Canadian exports to the U.S., ranging from alcohol to sports equipment.
Conservative politicians in Canada are urging the government to prioritize securing a favorable trade agreement with the U.S. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner emphasized the importance of Canada being in a strong negotiating position. Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called on Trade Minister Mark Carney to demonstrate leadership and secure a deal that benefits Canadians, including zero tariffs on softwood lumber and exemptions from various sectoral tariffs.