Overview
- Negotiators led by Canadian minister Dominic LeBlanc and U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer continued intensive talks in Washington with no final agreement reported and work planned up to the deadline.
- The U.S. has scheduled 50% surtaxes to take effect on a list of Canadian goods unless a deal is signed or another delay is granted.
- Multiple media reports say Washington may offer reduced tariffs specifically for Canadian steel and aluminum as part of a potential compromise.
- The United States is pressing Ottawa to end provincial boycotts of U.S. wines and spirits and to open greater access for U.S. dairy, but province-level liquor control authorities remain divided.
- The stakes are high because about 70% of Canadian exports go to the U.S., key sectors such as autos, steel and aluminum face immediate harm, and any deal risks sparking domestic political backlash.