For the second time this week, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and lead trade negotiator Janice Charette will meet face-to-face with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
The meetings are expected to take place at 4:30 p.m. ET at Greer’s office, just steps away from the White House.
The meeting comes six days before the deadline U.S. President Donald Trump set to impose a new round of 50 per cent tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods. Trump has already imposed 15 to 50 per cent tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper products, 25 per cent tariffs on autos and trucks and 10 per cent tariffs on softwood timber and lumber.
Talks have intensified with the deadline looming and LeBlanc has spent most of this week in the U.S. capital. CTV News has learned that Canadian and U.S. trade officials are hoping to have a layout of a deal in front of Trump before next Wednesday.
On Wednesday, sources also confirmed to CTV News that Canada’s lead trade negotiator Janice Charrette warned her American counterparts that if Trump’s team puts new tariffs in place next week, further trade negotiations may be at risk.
The new 50 per cent tariffs are the follow-through to a handful of American grievances with Canada’s economic structure:
U.S. grievances
- Auto tariffs: Canada’s auto tariffs apply to vehicles that aren’t covered under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade agreement, known as CUSMA. They also apply to non-Canadian and non-Mexican parts of vehicles that are protected. Those tariffs are a countermeasure to U.S. levies on Canada’s auto industry, according to the Canadian government.
- Dairy sector: Canada has separate trade deals with the U.S. and the European Union. The White House argues that the EU deal is less restrictive than Canada’s agreement with the U.S., which it claims amounts to discrimination.
- Alcohol bans: All provinces (except Alberta and Saskatchewan) and territories have independently decided to drop American alcoholic products from liquor-store shelves. These bans were put in place in retaliation to Trump’s tariffs and rhetoric against Canada.
According to one industry source, it was conveyed to Greer that there is no way the federal government can push the provinces to return U.S. alcohol to store shelves without comprehensive and meaningful tariff relief.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he’s not interested in restocking U.S. booze until negotiators strike a deal that will protect Ontario’s manufacturing industry. Asked if he would accept a deal that sees tariffs reduced, but not eliminated, he said “we have to match tariff for tariff.”
“We’re their No. 1 customer, folks,” he added, referring to American imports to Canada.
U.S. Customs data shows the U.S. has exported US$176-billion worth of goods to Canada and imported US$200 billion.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson says Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette plans to convene emergency meetings this week as her province braces for another layer of American tariffs.