Canada’s Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and the U.S. trade representative are working towards presenting a potential trade agreement to President Donald Trump by Monday, sources familiar with the matter revealed to CBC News. The aim is to provide Trump with the proposal a day before the upcoming tariff deadline to allow him time to make a final decision before new tariffs on Canadian imports take effect on August 19.
LeBlanc recently met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington for the third time in three weeks. Following their meeting, neither LeBlanc nor Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, answered questions from reporters. LeBlanc later mentioned on X that discussions are ongoing, and both he and Charette will continue engaging in negotiations.
In addition to preventing new tariffs on Canadian goods, LeBlanc and Charette are seeking relief from sectoral tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Canadian steel, aluminum, lumber, and automobiles. Canada is also hoping for an extension of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) after the Trump administration declined to renew the deal in July.
The U.S. cited various trade issues, including Canada’s response to U.S. trade policies, alcohol bans on U.S. products in Canadian stores, and alleged discrimination against U.S. vehicles and dairy products. The new tariffs are expected to impact about five percent of Canadian exports, targeting goods such as alcohol, hockey sticks, and cement.
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner emphasized the importance for Canada to negotiate from a position of strength with the White House. She called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to deliver on securing a trade agreement with the Trump administration, highlighting the need for zero tariffs on softwood lumber, an end to sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminum, a tariff-free auto pact, and exemptions to Buy America rules on infrastructure projects.
The Conservatives have urged Carney to show determination in the trade negotiations and ensure that Canadians receive a beneficial trade deal without compromising Canadian interests.
