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Canadian trade officials are meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington once again, as both sides hustle to lock down a crucial trade deal ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s pressing tariff deadline.
Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc’s office confirmed to CBC News on Thursday morning that he and chief trade negotiator Janice Charette would meet with Greer this afternoon. LeBlanc did not answer questions from reporters on his way into the meeting.
It is the second meeting this week between the Canadian and American trade officials, and the fourth in just three weeks.
The two sides have ramped up discussions since Trump threatened to impose 50 per cent duties on hundreds of Canadian goods, on top of sectoral tariffs already in place. Those tariffs are slated to come into effect Aug. 19.
WATCH | New pitch for Trump in the works:
Canada-U.S. trade reps working on new pitch for Trump
CBC News has learned Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are working on a proposal to pitch to U.S. President Donald Trump before a tariff deadline that could see hundreds of Canadian goods hit with a 50 per cent levy.
As previously reported, sources on both sides of the border say the Americans offered a new proposal on Tuesday which would lower some of the sectoral tariffs but not to the degree that the Canadian side would like to see.
The Americans are also seeking a deal that would see preferential access to Canadian critical minerals and which covers security and energy, the sources said.
CBC News previously reported LeBlanc and Greer are aiming to present Trump with a path to a potential trade deal as early as Monday.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has met several times with Canadian negotiators in recent weeks. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)
However, sources also told CBC News last week that the Canadian side has aggressively argued to the Americans that there would be no political appetite among Canadians to keep talks going if the Aug. 19 tariffs come into place.
Those tariffs, according to the U.S. government, are due to a number of trade irritants, including Canada’s retaliation against U.S. trade policy with the removal of U.S. alcohol from provincial store shelves and alleged discrimination against U.S. motor vehicles and dairy.
The Canadian side is willing to offer movement on some of those concerns, according to industry sources with knowledge of the situation. In addition to ending the booze bans, Canada is also considering lifting retaliatory tariffs on U.S. autos and making some changes on dairy.
Ford open to putting U.S. booze back on shelves
Also Thursday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford — a frequent critic of Trump — said he’d be “more than happy” to bring U.S. booze back onto his province’s shelves if a fair deal is reached that protects Ontario’s steel, auto, forestry, agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
Ford also said his message to Americans is “a tariff on Canada is a tax on the American people.”
“Remember when it comes to the [U.S.] midterms, you have to get that bully and send him a message,” Ford said.
The Ontario premier’s comments on U.S. alcohol bans echo those from Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette’s office, who said in a statement last week the removal of U.S. alcohol from Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) outlets will remain in effect “until an agreement that we deem fair has been negotiated.”
“The sale of alcohol falls exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Quebec government. Quebec, and Quebec alone, will make that decision,” the statement says.