Canada Warns 50% US Tariffs on $20 Billion Could Derail Aug. 19 Trade Deal
Updated
Updated · The Globe and Mail · Aug 12
Canada Warns 50% US Tariffs on $20 Billion Could Derail Aug. 19 Trade Deal
3 articles · Updated · The Globe and Mail · Aug 12
Summary
Janice Charette told U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer last week that new tariffs due Aug. 19 would be a "cliff" that could halt Canada-U.S. negotiations, according to five sources briefed on the talks.
Trump has threatened 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods, on top of existing levies on steel, aluminum, autos and lumber, and Charette warned Ottawa would face public and provincial pressure to retaliate.
The warning comes as negotiators race toward an interim deal that could trade Canadian concessions — including on export quotas, procurement, dairy and alcohol sales — for partial U.S. tariff relief.
Dominic LeBlanc returned to Washington on Tuesday for a third meeting in three weeks, but provinces still resist lifting bans on U.S. alcohol without meaningful progress on Section 232 tariffs.
With Trump's sign-off likely needed by Monday and Prime Minister Mark Carney away until Aug. 17, officials see a real chance of a deal but little time to secure one.