No Timeline for Resuming Canada-U.S. Trade Talks, Chief Negotiator Says
Canada's chief trade negotiator Janice Charette said there is no timeline to restart formal trade talks with the United States following the collapse of negotiations in late August, which triggered reciprocal tariffs on roughly US$20 billion in goods.
Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, said Thursday at the Toronto Global Forum that there is no timeline for returning to formal trade talks with the United States.
Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump this week, and Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc has maintained regular conversations with his American counterparts. Despite these contacts, the bilateral trade relationship remains unstable following the breakdown of negotiations in late August, when Carney walked away from the table minutes before a deadline.
Carney cited several reasons for ending the talks, including Washington’s refusal to grant tariff relief to Canadian medium- and heavy-duty trucks, demands regarding French-language content discoverability, and measures limiting Canada’s third-country trade deals. U.S. officials have disputed Ottawa’s characterization of the issues related to French-language content and third-country agreements.
After the talks collapsed, Washington imposed new tariffs on approximately US$20 billion worth of Canadian goods. Ottawa responded with countertariffs on a similar value of U.S. products.
Last month, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that the Trump administration is in no hurry to restart negotiations with Ottawa. Greer noted that the U.S. continues to receive necessary resources such as oil, gas, and potash from Canada, and that agricultural trade remains strong. The U.S. is currently focusing its trade negotiations on other countries, including Mexico. Earlier this week, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was "very close" to a deal with Washington to lower tariffs on Mexican steel, aluminum, and automobiles.
Charette indicated that stabilizing the Canada-U.S. trade relationship will likely require more than one step, including entering the formal review and renewal process of the USMCA. She also warned that it is unlikely the two countries will return to the tariff-free existence seen before the second Trump administration, citing the significant revenues that tariffs now provide to the U.S. Treasury.