Overview

• Prime Minister Mark Carney began a working meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, with both sides signaling no expectation of a sweeping trade deal.
• Trump defended his tariff strategy, claiming it pressures companies to shift operations to the United States and generates significant revenue for the U.S. Treasury.
• Canada faces 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum, 25% on certain autos, a 35% levy on goods outside USMCA, a new 10% softwood duty added Sept. 30, and a 25% tariff on medium and heavy-duty trucks set to start Nov. 1.
• Ottawa has sought to ease tensions by scrapping a proposed digital services tax and rolling back some retaliatory measures, while more than 85% of bilateral trade still moves tariff-free under USMCA.
• Industry groups, premiers and the opposition are pressing for tangible results, while observers say the most plausible near-term outcome would be narrow relief or quota carve-outs for steel or aluminum.