There has been ‘limited progress’ in Canada-U.S. trade talks: Canadian official

OTTAWA — Canadian officials have revealed that recent trade talks with the United States have yielded “limited progress,” according to a source familiar with the negotiations. Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged on Tuesday that discussions had intensified slightly in recent days, with both President Donald Trump and his officials expressing optimism that a deal could be reached before the upcoming midterm elections in the United States.

However, the Canadian government official cautioned that while dialogue has been ongoing, tangible advancements remain scarce.

Tensions in diplomatic relations between Canada and the U.S. have escalated since Prime Minister Carney’s administration severed formal trade negotiations in August. The Canadian leader criticized the Americans for presenting unreasonable demands at the eleventh hour. In response, Washington imposed tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Canadian goods, to which Ottawa retaliated by imposing similar tariffs on American products.

President Trump announced on Friday that he would lift some of the 50 percent tariffs on Canada by the end of the month, but simultaneously imposed additional tariffs on a host of new products, including waste and sewage from Canada.

The task force monitoring the situation reports that despite these developments, the progress towards a comprehensive trade agreement continues to be minimal.