Deadline looms as Trump’s 50 per cent tariffs set to kick in just after midnight

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc has stated that there is still more work to do to finalize a trade deal with the United States as President Donald Trump's midnight deadline approaches. LeBlanc left the negotiation table shortly after 7 p.m. Friday, promising that his team would continue working until the very last minute.

Canada's chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, remained at the table. President Trump earlier confirmed that the trade deal with Canada is moving along, though he noted that a deal has yet to be reached. Trump's latest tariff threat, imposing 50% tariffs on $28 billion worth of Canadian goods, is set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

The deal is expected to address issues such as U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, lumber, and autos, as well as concerns about limited access to Canada's dairy market and retaliatory tariffs on U.S. alcohol imports.