Canada, US hold third round of trade talks ahead of tariff deadline
Canadian minister Dominic LeBlanc met US trade officials again as a new tariff deadline looms, with talks focused on averting duties on nearly $20 billion in imports.
Canada's minister for US trade relations, Dominic LeBlanc, held another round of discussions with American trade officials on Tuesday, marking the third such meeting in as many weeks. The talks are part of a last-ditch effort to prevent a fresh wave of US tariffs from taking effect on August 19.
LeBlanc confirmed the meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, stating in a social media post that Canada remains committed to the negotiating table and is working to advance and defend its interests. Canada's chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, was also present.
The looming tariffs, proposed by US President Donald Trump, target a wide range of Canadian products and are scheduled to come into force next week. The move threatens to disrupt Canada's fragile economic recovery.
Washington has said the new duties would apply to nearly $20 billion worth of imports from Canada, representing roughly 5.2% of the $383 billion in goods the US purchased from Canada in 2025, according to US Census Bureau data.
The proposed tariffs are a response to Canada's counter-tariffs on US autos and steel, as well as the refusal of some Canadian provinces to stock American alcohol. Unlike previous duties, goods covered under the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement will not be exempted from these new measures.
A source familiar with the negotiations indicated last week that Ottawa may be willing to offer concessions on certain irritants raised by the Trump administration in exchange for Washington dropping the planned tariffs.