The U.S. and Canada are continuing negotiations ahead of the imposition of 50% tariffs
The U.S. and Canada will continue trade talks in Washington just hours before the deadline, after which President Donald Trump’s new 50 percent tariffs on a range of Canadian goods could take effect. The parties have not yet announced a final trade agreement, according to CNBC.
Canada’s Minister for Trade with the United States, Dominique Leblanc, and Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Sharet, are scheduled to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer at his office in Washington at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time. According to Leblanc, the parties are close to an agreement, continue to make progress, and will keep working until they reach a consensus.
If no agreement is reached by 12:01 a.m. Saturday Eastern Time, 50 percent tariffs will begin to apply to approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian imports. These include, in particular, hockey sticks, wine, and other goods. Business representatives have warned that the new duties could significantly impact their sales in the U.S., and the mere threat of tariffs has already affected companies’ operations.
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These tariffs were originally scheduled to take effect on Wednesday. However, Trump stated on Truth Social the day before that he would postpone their implementation by three days to allow Washington and Ottawa to finalize a preliminary agreement. The U.S. president noted that the agreement is practically ready but requires finalization of the documents. After rounds of negotiations on Wednesday and Thursday, the parties did not present a final agreement.
The negotiators have not publicly disclosed the details of a potential agreement or the unresolved issues. According to The New York Times, one of the central issues remains the current U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and lumber. Trump has stated that the U.S. may reduce these tariffs and has also hinted at lower tariffs on Canadian automobiles.
The Trump administration also claims that Canada has agreed to reduce trade barriers for the U.S., without providing specifics. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that the country is moving toward an agreement that should strengthen its position in strategic sectors and provide greater certainty in trade relations with the U.S.
