Lutnick Pushes to Keep 25% Canada Auto Tariff as U.S. Trade Deadline Nears
Updated
Updated · CBC Sports · Aug 21
Lutnick Pushes to Keep 25% Canada Auto Tariff as U.S. Trade Deadline Nears
3 articles · Updated · CBC Sports · Aug 21
Summary
Howard Lutnick has pressed for tougher terms in the near-final U.S.-Canada trade deal, arguing Washington can do better than the framework on the table since Tuesday.
The commerce secretary particularly objected to cutting the Section 232 tariff on Canadian-made autos to 15% from 25%, saying a reprieve would weaken efforts to shift production into the United States.
The push comes hours before Trump's three-day suspension of new tariffs expires at 12:01 a.m. ET Saturday, with Canadian and U.S. negotiators still meeting in Washington and Canada's Dominic LeBlanc saying a deal is "very close."
People briefed on the talks said Lutnick's stance has not derailed the agreement, but it clashes with public optimism from Trump, Mark Carney and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Draft terms described by sources would also ease tariffs on Canadian steel through a quota system and could widen U.S. dairy access in Canada, underscoring how politically sensitive the final concessions remain.