Canada‑U.S. trade talks press on as Saturday tariff deadline looms
Top trade officials from Canada and the United States have been meeting in Washington for a third consecutive day as they try to reach a bilateral agreement before a 50 percent tariff on roughly $20 billion of Canadian imports is set to begin at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Saturday. Canadian trade minister Dominic LeBlanc and chief negotiator Janice Charette have been holding lengthy sessions with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
While both sides say a deal is "very close," Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette said the negotiations are still far from concluded and she is waiting for assurances that the pact will protect the province's dairy and forestry sectors. The outcome will determine whether the threatened tariffs are averted and could reshape trade flows between the two countries.
Why it matters
The pending tariff could raise prices on a wide range of goods and affect jobs in both Canada and the United States.
How this story developed
- Aug 11 Canadian trade minister meets U.S. counterpart again as tariff deadline looms
- Aug 20 The tariff suspension was extended to remain in place through the end of Aug. 21.
- Aug 20 A trade agreement was reached to suspend the threatened 50% tariffs, with terms not made public.
- Aug 22 A second day of talks was held in Washington as the Saturday tariff deadline loomed.
- Aug 22 The United States moved from pausing the tariffs to announcing they will be imposed after the talks failed.
- Aug 22 Canada abruptly ended negotiations with the United States after Washington introduced last-minute changes that Prime Minister Mark Carney called unfair and uneconomic, sending the trade team back to Ottawa.
- Aug 22 The United States invoked the previously unused Section 338 of the 1930 Tariff Act to impose the tariffs.
- Aug 22 Canada said it will roll out retaliatory tariffs on September 8.
- Aug 22 President Donald Trump enacted 50% duties on a wide array of Canadian goods worth about $20 billion, and Prime Minister Mark Carney announced equivalent counter-tariffs starting Sept. 8.
- Aug 22 Canada set September 8 as the effective date for its retaliatory tariffs.
- Aug 23 U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the United States had offered reduced steel, aluminium and automotive duties as part of the stalled negotiations.
- Aug 23 Trump publicly criticized Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on his social‑media platform.
- Aug 23 Alberta premier Danielle Smith called for a return to trade talks.
- Aug 23 Negotiators met for a third day in Washington as the Saturday deadline approaches.
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