Canadian trade officials are set to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington as they work towards finalizing a crucial trade agreement before the looming tariff deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump. The office of Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc confirmed the meeting scheduled for Thursday afternoon with chief trade negotiator Janice Charette joining the discussions.
This meeting marks the second encounter this week between the Canadian and American trade representatives and the fourth meeting within a span of three weeks. The intensified negotiations come in response to Trump’s threat of imposing 50% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods, in addition to existing sectoral tariffs. The proposed tariffs are slated to take effect on August 19.
Recent reports indicate that both sides are actively engaging in talks, with the Americans presenting a new proposal on Tuesday aimed at reducing some sectoral tariffs. However, the proposal falls short of meeting the Canadian expectations. Additionally, the U.S. is seeking a comprehensive deal that includes preferential access to Canadian critical minerals, covering aspects of security and energy.
LeBlanc and Greer are reportedly working on a proposal to present to President Trump before the tariff deadline, in a bid to facilitate a potential trade agreement as early as next week. Despite the efforts to find common ground, Canadian officials have made it clear that continued negotiations would be challenging if the August 19 tariffs are implemented.
The looming tariffs are attributed to various trade disputes, including Canada’s response to U.S. trade policies, such as the removal of U.S. alcohol from provincial stores and alleged discriminatory practices against U.S. motor vehicles and dairy products.
