Canadian trade minister says “we’re prepared to stick around and do the work needed” after U.S. imposed 35% tariff on goods
The Minister of Trade Canada-US, Dominic Leblanc, said on Sunday that “we are ready to stay and do the necessary work” despite having left Washington without a new trade agreement among President Trump’s increased rates.
“We believe that there is a lot of common ground between the United States and Canada in terms of building two strong economies that work well together”, ” Leblanc said on “Face The Nation with Margaret Brennan. “”
The White House announcement Last week, the tasks go from 25% to 35% on Canadian goods not covered by the Agreement of the Canada-United-United, saying that the second trade partner of the United States had not done enough to approach immigration and the flow of fentanyl in the United States Leblanc said that even “that we were obviously disappointed by this decision”, “the negotiators” would continue to do the work. “
Leblanc said that his team went with “a better understanding of American concerns in the commercial relationship” and characterizing meetings with the US trade representative Jamieson Greer and the secretary of trade Howard Lunick as “constructive and cordial conversations”.
“We are encouraged by conversations with secretary Lutnick and Ambassador Greer, but we are not yet where we have to go to obtain the agreement that is in the best interest of the two economies,” said Leblanc.
Trump announced higher rates against more than 60 American trade partners at the end of last week. But Canada is the largest American trading partner included, being the world’s largest buyer in American goods and the third seller of goods in the United States last year, according to data from the census office. The country bought some $ 350 billion in American products and sold $ 412 billion to the American market in 2024.
In a Interview for “Face The Nation” FridayGreer cited the reprisal rates of Canada imposed earlier this year under the direction of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the increase, saying: “If the president will take action and Canadians retaliate, the United States must maintain the integrity of our action, effectiveness, so we must also rise.”
“Our opinion is that the president tries to resolve the business conditions with Canada, and if there is a way to make an agreement, we will find it,” said Greer. “And if this is not the case, we will have the rate levels that we have.”
In a statement published on Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “disappointed” by Trump’s actions. He noted that “Canada represents only 1% of American fentany’s imports and worked intensively to further reduce these volumes”.
Leblanc said on Sunday that he expects Carney to have a conversation with Mr. Trump “during the next number of days”, while noting that the Canadian Prime Minister has “established a very respectful and respectful relationship with President Trump”.
“We understand and fully respect the president’s opinion in terms of national security interests. In fact, we share it,” said Leblanc. “And what we have said to our American counterparts is how we can structure the right agreement where we can both continue to provide reliably and profitable way which preserves the essential jobs to the American economy? But the same is true, obviously in Canada.”
The American-Canadian relationship has been tense since Mr. Trump came into office in January and suggested several times that Canada could become the “51st state”. Carney refused this At an oval office meeting with Trump in May, saying that Canada is “not for sale”.
