Senior trade officials from Canada and the United States are reportedly working to craft a potential trade agreement, with the aim of presenting it to U. S. President Donald Trump as early as next Monday. This development, reported by CBC News citing anonymous sources, comes just ahead of a significant tariff deadline on August 19th. The proposed deal could reach the U. S. President at least a day before this deadline, allowing him time to make a final decision.
Canada-U. S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and U. S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer have been engaged in intensive discussions, with their third meeting in as many weeks taking place in Washington D. C. on Tuesday. While LeBlanc's travel plans were temporarily disrupted by severe weather, Canada's chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, also spent Monday in Washington meeting with U. S. officials. Neither official has commented on the ongoing negotiations.
Beyond the immediate goal of averting new tariffs, Canada is seeking relief from existing U. S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, lumber, and automobiles. The ongoing talks also aim to address the future of the Canada-U. S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which the Trump administration declined to renew last month. The U. S. had previously announced additional tariffs of 50% on a range of Canadian goods, including wine, hockey sticks, and cement, citing discriminatory trade policies. Discussions are also reportedly focusing on potential concessions regarding Canada's supply management system for dairy and changes to how dairy quotas are allocated.
