Canada's trade minister to visit Washington for key meetings amid ongoing trade tensions

Canada's Minister of International Trade, Dominic LeBlanc, will travel to Washington, D.C., this week for a series of meetings focused on Canada–U.S. trade relations, according to a spokesperson for his office. Canada's chief trade negotiator to the United States, Janice Charette, will accompany him.

The visit comes as trade tensions between Canada and the United States continue after nearly 18 months of disputes. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on Canadian goods. Following a phone call with Trump, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the two leaders agreed to continue discussions on trade issues.

LeBlanc's office has not disclosed the exact dates or length of the trip, nor has it identified the U.S. officials he is expected to meet. Details of the meeting agenda have also not been released.

Canada and the United States have not yet begun formal negotiations related to the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Meanwhile, the United States and Mexico are expected to resume official trade talks in September. Last week, a senior Trump administration official described discussions with Canada as constructive but did not provide a timeline for the start of formal negotiations.