Canadian and American trade negotiators were in the process of drafting a potential agreement before U.S. President Donald Trump unexpectedly terminated trade discussions last week, according to Canada’s ambassador in Washington. Ambassador Kirsten Hillman informed the Senate foreign affairs committee on Wednesday that they were outlining the initial steps for a trade deal between the two countries. Trump abruptly ended the negotiations following an Ontario government advertisement that utilized former U.S. president Ronald Reagan’s words to convey an anti-tariff message to American audiences.
During the committee hearing, Hillman revealed that progress had been made, although some unresolved issues persisted, despite advancements since Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent visit to Washington. While she clarified that an agreement was not imminent, she noted substantial progress had been achieved in those weeks compared to previous efforts.
Carney and Trump met face-to-face for the first time since the trade talks were halted. They exchanged acknowledgments during a dinner before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC) but did not engage further. Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the withdrawal of the contentious ad that triggered Trump’s reaction, albeit after it had aired over the weekend, including during the World Series.
Initially aiming for a comprehensive trade and security agreement with tariff reductions, Ottawa shifted its focus to specific sectoral tariffs in recent weeks. Reports suggested a potential deal on aluminum and steel could be reached during the APEC summit, though Carney downplayed these claims.
Hillman emphasized that recent discussions primarily centered on steel and aluminum but assured that other industries were not overlooked. She clarified that the U.S. intended to prioritize certain issues for accelerated progress, without neglecting others, emphasizing the importance of sequencing in the negotiation process.
