Canada-U.S. Trade Talks Intensify as 50% Tariff Deadline Nears

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is set to brief the federal trade cabinet and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s advisory committee today on the ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, as the August 19 deadline for a new 50 per cent tariff on Canadian goods rapidly approaches.

Following a series of meetings in Washington with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Canadian officials are working on a common trade framework that could be presented to U.S. President Donald Trump for approval as early as next week.

LeBlanc and Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, remain in Washington. However, a spokesperson for LeBlanc’s office confirmed that no meeting between LeBlanc and Greer is currently scheduled for today.

Canada is facing the latest tariff threat while its steel, aluminum and lumber industries are already dealing with significant pressure from existing U.S. tariffs.