Canada-U.S. trade talks expected to resume after Carney-Trump call
Formal trade talks between Canada and the United States are expected to resume shortly, after Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke on Saturday, Oct. 31. A source familiar with the matter said the formal negotiations are expected to begin in a few days, and that Trump ordered his team to resume them as a result of the conversation.
On Sunday, Nov. 1, Carney said on X that he had a productive call with Trump about the future of Canada-U.S. trade. He said the call built on recent constructive discussions about the outlines of a possible deal. He added that Canadian and U.S. teams will work in the coming weeks to deliver a trade outcome, according to the Globe and Mail.
Trump also spoke on Sunday. He said his administration has the "concept" of a new trade deal with Canada, but he did not offer details. Speaking to reporters in Dubuque, Iowa, he said he had discussed trade with Carney in recent days and had spoken with him again on Saturday.
The talks are expected to pick up where they left off in August. Carney suspended the negotiations that month and directed Canada's negotiators to return to Ottawa, according to a statement from his office. At the time, the two countries were deadlocked over matters including automobile trade.
In August, Carney said the U.S. was offering a "bad deal" that asked too much and offered too little for Canada. He also said U.S. trade proposals would have curtailed Canadian sovereignty and eroded or destroyed major industries in the country.
Carney listed three reasons for ending the talks. He cited the U.S. refusal to extend tariff relief, which are taxes on imported goods, to medium- and heavy-duty trucks. He said that decision affects General Motors and Ford plants in Ontario. He also pointed to U.S. pressure to change how easily French-language content can be found on online streaming services. Third, he cited U.S.-suggested wording that Ottawa believed could restrict Canada's ability to make trade deals with other countries.
Carney has said what he considers a good deal would create jobs for workers, make life more affordable for families, and respect Canada's languages, culture and sovereignty.
On Oct. 28, Carney said there had been a "slight intensification" in trade talks with the U.S. His report of progress came days before the U.S. midterm elections, according to PBS NewsHour.
