LeBlanc heads back to U.S. for trade talks as clock ticks on tariff pause
Prime Minister Mark Carney chaired a meeting of Canada’s premiers on Wednesday, “to discuss the ongoing trade negotiations with the United States,” his office said.
Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced on Thursday that Canada and the United States are "very close" to finalizing a trade deal following weeks of intense negotiations. The talks, which came with the threat of 50% tariffs from the United States under President Donald Trump, have reportedly reached a significant point.
LeBlanc, accompanied by Canada’s chief trade negotiator Janice Charette, discussed the possibility of reducing steel and aluminum tariffs from 50% to 25% and auto tariffs from 25% to 15%. Discussions are also underway regarding tariff relief for Canada’s softwood lumber industry. Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss shared security priorities, Arctic foreign policy, defence spending, support for Haiti, and combating transnational fraudulent activity.
Anand stated that Canada will continue to engage constructively with the United States on trade and to strengthen their economic relationship.
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