Canada says U.S. shifts toward its terms in trade talks as midterms approach

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on Monday that trade negotiations with the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump have improved slightly. He emphasized that any advancement stems from Washington shifting closer to Canada's demands rather than Ottawa changing its stance.

Discussion and Past Rejections

Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc's office reported that Canada stays in positive talks with Washington. Prime Minister Carney noted a mild pickup in dialogue. When asked if he trusts the U.S. President to finalize an agreement this time, he admitted he does not know. Canada turned down U.S. terms in August because the proposal crossed vital limits. President Trump then placed fifty percent tariffs on about twenty billion dollars of Canadian products, leading to counter-measures and more trade limits.

Political Pressure and Tariffs

President Trump mentioned on Friday that he would remove some tariffs on Canadian items while adding new ones on other goods. Days later, he claimed Canada wanted to offer anything right away and a pact would happen soon. These trade duties turned into a major topic during tight Senate races. Republican candidate Mike Rogers urged an end to the tariff fight in a campaign ad, while Senator Susan Collins pushed the administration to lift tariffs on items used by local businesses. President Trump targets the trade gap with Canada, though energy makes up most of that deficit. He also wants car makers to shift factories from Canada to the U.S.

Context

These trade tensions have pushed Canadian leadership to look for new trade partners and aim to double exports outside the U.S. in the next ten years. Prime Minister Carney is set to meet European Union leaders in Montreal to build stronger economic and security ties. Ursula von der Leyen has suggested making Canada the first associate member of the EU, though details of that status remain under discussion.