Add StudioX as a preferred source on GoogleTrade talks between Canada and the United States have made “limited progress,” a Canadian government official said this week, even as leaders on both sides hint that a deal could be close.
The official, who has knowledge of the negotiations, spoke to The Canadian Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Reuters reported the same assessment on Wednesday.
The official said discussions are continuing, but progress has been limited.
Mixed signals
Prime Minister Mark Carney said this week there had been “a slight intensification” in the talks, Reuters reported.
U.S. President Donald Trump predicted on Sunday that the dispute would be resolved “soon,” without giving details. Trump and his officials have suggested a deal could come before next week’s U.S. midterm elections.
Reuters reported that the latest talks focus on U.S. tariffs imposed under Section 232 of American trade law. These include tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Canadian steel and 25 per cent on autos. Reuters reported on Monday that the two sides were working on a deal to ease those duties.
How we got here
Carney’s government walked away from formal talks in August, accusing U.S. negotiators of making unreasonable last-minute demands.
Trump then put 50 per cent tariffs on a range of Canadian products. Ottawa answered with retaliatory tariffs on some American goods. In September, Washington banned imports of certain Canadian goods, including motorcycles and some liquor and whey products.
Some relief, some new duties
On Oct. 23, Trump signed an executive order that removes tariffs from nine categories of Canadian exports starting Oct. 30. They include corrugated paper, plastic boxes and several types of agricultural machinery.
Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who faces a tough re-election race, said she pushed for the exemptions. She said the products matter to her state’s blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers.
The same order adds tariffs on dozens of new categories of Canadian goods. These include cocoa powder, paints and varnishes, shampoos, vinyl flooring, archery equipment and carpets. Sewage sludge and some municipal waste will face 50 per cent tariffs.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded to the relief on social media: “Now get rid of the rest.”
Politics south of the border
Tariffs on Canada have become an election issue in U.S. border states. Collins’s Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, has made the trade war central to his campaign. In Michigan, Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers has also called for an end to it.
The U.S. Commerce Department, which administers the Section 232 tariffs, did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Why it matters in B.C.
For B.C. businesses and workers, tariffs on steel, autos and a widening list of consumer goods affect costs and cross-border orders. Retaliatory Canadian tariffs can also raise prices on some American products here.
Many small importers and exporters in the Lower Mainland, including family-run firms in diaspora communities, depend on predictable U.S. trade rules. Businesses may want to check whether their products appear on the latest exemption or tariff lists.
No deal has been announced. Talks are expected to continue.
Sources: The Canadian Press, Reuters, CTV News
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving multilingual diaspora communities across Canada. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
