LeBlanc to meet U.S. trade representative as Canada seeks to advance trade discussions

Canada–U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is scheduled to travel to Washington on Tuesday for talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, according to LeBlanc's office.

Spokesperson Gabriel Brunet said LeBlanc will be joined by Canada's Chief Trade Negotiator, Janice Charette, for the meeting. The discussions come as Canada and the United States prepare for a mandatory review of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the continental trade pact governing trade among the three countries.

Formal trade negotiations between Ottawa and Washington have not yet begun ahead of the review process. According to public statements from both governments, the United States and Mexico have already started negotiations related to the agreement.

The meeting follows ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump suspended trade discussions with Canada last year after criticizing an Ontario government advertisement that quoted former U.S. president Ronald Reagan's remarks on tariffs. More recently, Greer said the Trump administration continues to have significant trade concerns with Canada.