Summary
Canada and the United States have restarted trade discussions after a break that lasted several months. Canadian trade minister Dominic LeBlanc is visiting Washington for meetings about the US-Canada-Mexico free trade agreement (USMCA). The talks were previously stopped in October after an advert caused tension between the two countries.
Key Facts
- Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s trade minister, is meeting US trade representative Jamieson Greer in Washington.
- The discussions focus on the US-Canada-Mexico free trade agreement, known as USMCA.
- Formal trade talks were paused last October after Ontario ran an anti-tariff advert, leading to President Trump's decision to suspend talks.
- President Trump has considered ending the USMCA or creating separate trade deals with Canada and Mexico.
- Canada wants to keep the USMCA in place, expressing concern over the agreement's future.
- The USMCA protects most of Canada’s trade from broad US tariffs, though specific tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars remain.
- A worldwide 10% duty was imposed by the US under a rarely used law called Section 122.
- While Canadian and US officials say some tariffs will likely stay, meetings between US and Mexican negotiators will also occur soon.
