US, Canada draft trade deal for Trump ahead of tariff deadline

Senior Canadian and US trade representatives are working to present President Donald Trump with a joint trade proposal as early as Monday, aiming to avert new 50% tariffs on hundreds of Canadian imports set to take effect Aug. 19, according to a report by Canadian broadcaster CBC.

Intensive consultations

Canada-US Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met in Washington on Tuesday for their third face-to-face meeting in three weeks, while Canada's chief trade negotiator Janice Charette also traveled to the US capital on Monday for talks with American officials. The negotiations "remain ongoing," LeBlanc said. "We continue to engage at the negotiation table to firmly advance and defend Canadian interests," he added.

Looming tariff deadline

The joint proposal could reach Trump's desk at least one day before the Aug. 19 deadline, giving the White House time to review the package before new 50% duties take effect on Canadian goods ranging from wine and hockey sticks to cement and steel. Last month, Washington announced the additional tariffs covering these sectors.

Beyond seeking to prevent the new levies, Canada wants relief from existing US tariffs on steel, aluminum, lumber and autos. Ottawa also hopes the discussions will lead to an extension of the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement, according to CBC.