Photo: White House / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Developing story
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Nov. 1 that he had a constructive conversation with President Donald Trump about a possible trade deal. Negotiators will keep working in the coming weeks, but no terms have been announced.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Nov. 1 that he had a constructive conversation with President Donald Trump about a potential trade deal, according to an Associated Press report.
Carney said the call built on recent talks about the outlines of an agreement. He said it would create jobs, lower costs for families and protect Canada’s languages, culture and sovereignty.
“Our teams will now be working in the coming weeks to deliver that outcome,” Carney wrote on social media.
Talks have been uneven
Canada broke off negotiations in August after turning down demands from the U.S. Carney argued that those demands put Canadian sovereignty, protections for the French language and the auto sector at risk. In response, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, and Canada struck back with its own retaliatory measures.
Talks have since resumed. As recently as Oct. 28, Carney said the two countries were not in a position to reach a deal before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
The two sides have discussed possible relief from U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and automobiles. No details of an agreement have been announced. The reports did not say how the White House described the call.
Political stakes
In the midterms, the trade war has emerged as a major campaign issue, particularly in Michigan and Maine. Republican contenders in those states have come under pressure because tariffs are harming local businesses. Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee for Senate in Michigan, has urged that the tariff war be brought to a close.
On Oct. 30, Canada and the European Union set up a fresh economic and security partnership. Over the coming ten years, Carney aims to double the amount Canada exports to markets beyond the United States.
This story is developing and will be updated.
What it means for you
- Tariff relief on Canadian steel and autos is under discussion, but no terms have been announced.
- Tariffs are a campaign issue in Michigan and Maine ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.
- Carney said negotiators will work toward a deal in the coming weeks, so watch for an announcement.