Top trade negotiators from Canada and the United States will meet for a third consecutive day in Washington on Friday as the two countries seek to finalize a trade agreement before new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods take effect on Saturday.
Canada’s minister responsible for trade with the United States, Dominic LeBlanc, is scheduled to meet U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer as negotiations continue. The talks follow more than three hours of discussions between the two officials on Thursday, when LeBlanc said the countries were “very close” to reaching a deal but still had work to complete.
The negotiations are being driven by a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose a new 50% tariff on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods if an agreement is not reached by 12:01 a.m. EDT on Saturday.
The proposed tariffs have increased pressure on both sides to resolve outstanding issues and avoid further disruption to trade between the two closely integrated economies.
A successful agreement could ease tensions that have strained relations between the two long standing allies for nearly two years. It could also clear the way for broader negotiations on renewing the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA), which governs much of the trade between the three North American countries.
Canadian and U.S. officials have continued to emphasize the importance of reaching an agreement, but significant issues remain unresolved as the deadline approaches.
Businesses on both sides of the border are closely watching the negotiations, with the threat of higher tariffs raising concerns about increased costs, disrupted supply chains and uncertainty for exporters.
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