With the deadline for President Donald Trump’s new tariffs drawing near, Canada and the U.S. are still far from reaching a tariff agreement, and Canadian officials are dissatisfied with the latest offer from the U.S., as per two knowledgeable sources involved in the trade discussions.
Reports from both sides indicate that the U.S. presented a fresh proposal on Tuesday, intending to decrease certain sectoral tariffs, but not to the extent desired by the Canadian negotiators. The sources requesting anonymity, as they were not permitted to disclose details publicly, shared this information with CBC News.
Efforts have been ongoing in recent weeks, as negotiators strive to strike a deal before August 19, the deadline set by Trump for imposing a 50 percent tariff on numerous Canadian goods, in addition to the current sectoral tariffs.
The U.S. is pushing for an agreement that would grant advantageous access to Canadian critical minerals, encompassing security and energy sectors, according to the sources.
Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc from Canada has engaged in three meetings with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington over the past few weeks. Earlier reports from CBC News suggested that they are working towards presenting Trump with a potential trade deal pathway by Monday.
Sources informed CBC News last week that the Canadian officials strongly conveyed to the U.S. counterparts that Canadians would not support continuing negotiations if the August 19 tariffs were implemented.
Both parties have committed to daily meetings at various levels leading up to the impending deadline, as disclosed by the sources.
CBC News has learned Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are working on a proposal to pitch to U.S. President Donald Trump before a tariff deadline that could see hundreds of Canadian goods hit with a 50 percent levy.
Following their meeting with Greer on Tuesday afternoon, neither LeBlanc nor Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, responded to reporters’ inquiries.
LeBlanc later confirmed that discussions are ongoing and assured continuous engagement in negotiations with Charette.
As of Wednesday night, LeBlanc’s office confirmed that both officials are still in Washington.
Aside from discouraging the imposition of new tariffs, LeBlanc and Charette are also seeking relief from the existing U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, lumber, and automobiles.
Furthermore, Canada is hopeful that the ongoing trade discussions will lead to the renewal of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), especially after the Trump administration’s recent decision not to extend the deal beyond 2036.