U.S. trade chief says Canada deal faces tough, unresolved issues

At the G20 trade ministers’ summit in Milwaukee, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer expressed doubt that a new trade agreement with Canada will be reached soon, citing a handful of stubborn issues. While technical negotiations between trade experts are ongoing, Greer said the United States’ tariff strategy is meant to reindustrialize the country rather than single out Canada. Canadian officials counter that tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles would disrupt a deeply integrated economy that is the United States’ largest export market.

Greer also claimed that other countries treat the U.S. as a dumping ground, reinforcing the push for reshoring. Data from the Economic Policy Institute, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, show a loss of about 62,000 manufacturing jobs since the start of Trump’s second term in January 2025. International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu met Greer in Wisconsin, stressing the need for cooperation on auto-supply workers and broader trade issues, while Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney remains skeptical of the U.S. proposals.