Moe optimistic about Canada-U.S. trade deal

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe expressed optimism regarding a potential trade deal between Canada and the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump's recent decision not to impose 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods is seen as a positive development for the province. Moe believes that the additional levies would have been detrimental to both businesses and the overall economy.

Canada and the U.S. have been engaged in negotiations to reduce existing tariffs on certain Canadian products, and Moe hopes such an agreement would result in lower levies on steel, aluminum, lumber, and automobiles.

The premier cited the recent suspension of operations at a sawmill in Saskatchewan as an example of the impact these tariffs have already had on businesses. He also mentioned that Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked provinces to reintroduce U.S. liquor onto store shelves, a measure that would not affect Saskatchewan as the province never imposed a ban.

Moe emphasized the importance of achieving preferred market access to Canada's largest trading partner, the United States. He expressed confidence that they are in the process of achieving this goal, stating that Canada will have the strongest trade agreement with the U.S. of any country in the world. However, he also acknowledged that the status quo that existed two years ago is no longer possible. This report was originally published by The Canadian Press on August 19, 2026.