Trump says Canada is pushing hard on a stalled U.S. trade agreement

During a press briefing, President Donald Trump asserted that Canada is "working very hard" to clinch a trade agreement, emphasizing that the United States possesses the decisive cards. Canadian trade minister Jim Carney, speaking from Istanbul, noted that a deal could be signed quickly if the U.S. were ready, but also warned it might be postponed until after the November 3 midterms or a future administration. Negotiations have been at a standstill, with major disputes over tariffs on medium and heavy-duty trucks, French-language labeling requirements, streaming discoverability rules, and U.S. oversight of Canadian trade policy.

Canadian officials, including Dominic LeBlanc, Janice Charette and Mark Wiseman, met recently to keep communication channels open. Meanwhile, U.S. officials have escalated rhetoric, with Ambassador Pete Hoekstra and adviser Peter Navarro warning Canadians to stay out of American politics, and a U.S. embassy fact sheet accusing several Canadian politicians of election interference.