Canada’s Trade Minister, Dominic LeBlanc, and his U.S. counterpart are working on presenting a potential trade deal to President Donald Trump by Monday, according to sources familiar with the matter. The aim is to have the proposal ready at least a day before the upcoming tariff deadline to allow Trump time to make a final decision before imposing new 50% levies on hundreds of Canadian imports on August 19.
LeBlanc is set to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on Tuesday, marking their third face-to-face meeting in as many weeks. Janice Charette, Canada’s chief trade negotiator, spent Monday in Washington meeting with officials from the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office. Both Charette and LeBlanc’s office have refrained from commenting on the ongoing negotiations.
Aside from trying to prevent new tariffs, LeBlanc and Charette are seeking relief from sectoral tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Canadian steel, aluminum, lumber, and autos. 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 third meeting between LeBlanc and Greer precedes the August 19 deadline, when the U.S. plans to impose 50% tariffs on approximately five percent of Canadian exports, including goods like alcohol, hockey sticks, and cement. The U.S. has cited various trade issues with Canada, such as retaliation against U.S. trade policies and alleged discrimination against U.S. motor vehicles and dairy products.
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner emphasized the importance of Canada negotiating from a position of strength with the White House. She called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to fulfill his promise to secure 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 article concludes with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre urging Carney to demonstrate resilience in trade negotiations and secure a favorable deal for Canadians, emphasizing the need to avoid policies that could lead to a decline in Canada’s trade interests.
