Canadian and American negotiators are trying to put a joint trade proposal in front of Donald Trump before Washington imposes 50 percent tariffs on hundreds of Canadian goods next Wednesday. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc met U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on Tuesday, his third visit in three weeks, while chief negotiator Janice Charette has stayed in the capital throughout.
Talks have centered on Canadian concessions — pulling American booze from provincial shelves, easing 'Buy Canadian' procurement rules, dropping retaliatory auto tariffs, and dairy protectionism — in exchange for relief on U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs as high as 50 percent. The threatened tariffs would hit an estimated $28 billion in goods, including wine, honey, cement and hockey sticks, though many listed items aren't things Canada actually exports to the U.S.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is vacationing in Italy on a reduced schedule and due back Monday, around the same time a draft deal might land on Trump's desk. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner noted Carney promised a better deal a year ago and it still hasn't materialized.
The full dispatch is available from the source below.