Canadian and US negotiators face a Friday night deadline to finalise a trade agreement or risk a new wave of American tariffs on a broad range of Canadian goods, with talks now described as very close by Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc ahead of a further meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew urged Ottawa not to rush into concessions, calling Donald Trump untrustworthy and a "bad person" while warning Canada should fight rather than capitulate. Leaked details suggest the US would reduce steel and aluminium tariffs from 50% to 25% and auto tariffs from 25% to 15%, terms critics say are insufficient. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre condemned any deal accepting unilateral tariffs, while an economist estimated 90,000 Canadian jobs could be lost under the new levies.
A key sticking point remains restrictions on US alcohol sales in eight of ten provinces, with Prime Minister Mark Carney pressing provincial leaders to lift bans. A Leger poll found 56% of Canadians favour a tough stance against Washington.