Economy & Trade
Canada says US drops French-language trade positions
Canadian minister Dominic LeBlanc said Thursday that Ottawa welcomed what he described as a US move away from positions on French-language and Canadian cultural measures in trade talks.
LeBlanc, the minister responsible for US-Canada trade, said on X that the United States was “withdrawing its positions on discoverability and labelling” and confirming that measures to promote French language and Canadian culture would not face future US trade actions. He said Canada was waiting for further US clarifications that could allow negotiations to resume and move toward a possible deal.
His comments followed remarks by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to CBC. Greer said the White House had raised the discoverability of French content on streaming services, but he said it was not a dealbreaker and that Washington understood French-language protections were sensitive and important.
US-Canada trade talks collapsed late Friday. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said US negotiators had sought restrictions on Canada's trade agreements with other countries and had made unacceptable “threats” to the French language and Quebec culture.
Separately, Canada's Department of Finance said it had exempted fish and other seafood products from planned retaliatory tariffs on US goods after adjustments made “based on feedback”.
The Canadian counter-tariffs, set between 15% and 50%, are due to take effect on September 8. They broadly mirror US President Donald Trump's 50% duties on $27.6 billion, or US$20 billion, in Canadian goods, which took effect on Saturday.
Canada's remaining retaliatory measures are set to cover industrial and consumer products including railway construction materials and dishwashers. The White House had alleged discriminatory treatment by Canada against US alcohol, automobile and dairy products when it announced its latest tariffs.
Update
Canadian minister Dominic LeBlanc said Canada welcomes what he described as the United States withdrawing positions on discoverability and labelling.
LeBlanc said Canada is awaiting further US clarifications that could allow negotiations to resume.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CBC that French-content discoverability had been raised by the White House but was not a dealbreaker.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 August 2026 at 14:55:09 UTC.
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Canada removed fish and other seafood products from its retaliatory tariff list on US goods.
Canada's Department of Finance said the adjustments were made “based on feedback”.
The seafood duties could have affected US states including Alaska and Maine ahead of US midterm elections in November.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 August 2026 at 13:37:54 UTC.
Update
The United States has a GDP of $32.5 trillion, compared with Canada's $2.5 trillion.
Rabobank's Christian Lawrence said exports to the United States are 25% of Canada's GDP.
University of Calgary professor Trevor Tombe estimated the new US tariffs could put nearly 90,000 Canadian jobs at risk.
The Fertilizer Institute estimated last year that 85% of US potash imports came from Canada.
A US Energy Information Administration analysis put US energy imports from Canada at $111 billion in 2025 and US energy exports to Canada at $26 billion.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce estimated last year that more than 60% of US goods imports from Canada are intermediate goods.
ING's James Knightley said US importers, especially near the Canadian border, would likely feel higher costs.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 August 2026 at 16:47:15 UTC.
Update
The new US tariffs do not exempt products covered by the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement.
Oxford Economics said plastics, electrical machinery, wood, and paper products contribute most to the increase in the effective US tariff rate on Canadian exports.
Polling released by the Angus Reid Institute showed broad Canadian support for Carney's decision to walk away from talks, while some respondents feared economic repercussions.
The White House alleged discriminatory treatment by Canada against US alcohol, automobile and dairy products.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 21:36:12 UTC.
Update
Canada's counter-tariff list includes frozen and fresh fish, dishwashers, washing machines and railway construction materials.
Donald Trump said he was considering renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”
Mark Carney said US negotiators sought restrictions on Canadian trade deals and made unacceptable threats to the French language and Quebec culture; Trump denied he would interfere with Canadians speaking French.
Polling by the Angus Reid Institute found Canadians broadly support Carney's decision to walk away from talks, while some fear economic repercussions.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 16:55:18 UTC.
Update
Canadian Industry Minister Melanie Joly said Canada would fight back if President Donald Trump doubled US tariffs on Canadian autos.
Joly said she had contacted the presidents of Ford Canada, Honda Canada and Toyota Canada after the 50% tariff threat.
Joly said Canada would fight for the affected auto jobs.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 16:19:01 UTC.
Update
US President Donald Trump said he was considering renaming Lake Ontario as "Lake America" amid the dispute.
Industry Minister Melanie Joly urged Canadians to support local businesses and said Canada would work with new allies and trading partners.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 15:46:49 UTC.
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Canada announced counter-tariffs on US goods ranging from 15% to 50%.
The counter-tariffs are due to take effect on September 8.
Canadian officials said the duties will match US levels.
US steel and aluminum products previously subject to a 25% Canadian duty will face 50% tariffs.
Canada said 25% duties will cover appliances, dairy products such as cheese, and some steel and aluminum derivatives; a 15% duty will cover a smaller category including electric equipment and tools.
The affected goods account for about 7.3% of Canada's imports from the United States.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 15:16:37 UTC.
Update
Canada announced a $5.4 billion aid package for workers and firms hit by US tariffs.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 15:03:39 UTC.
Update
Canada announced counter tariffs on US goods ranging from 15% to 50%.
The retaliatory duties will take effect September 8.
Canadian officials said the new duties will match US tariff levels.
Canada announced a $5.4 billion aid package for affected firms and workers.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 15:08:06 UTC.
Update
Oxford Economics estimated the latest US tariffs will raise the effective US tariff rate on Canadian exports to 6.9% from 5.1%.
Oxford Economics said plastics, electrical machinery, and wood and paper products contribute most to the increase, with manufacturers in Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario most affected.
Carney said US negotiators made unacceptable threats to the French language and Quebec culture; Trump denied he would interfere with Canadians speaking French.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticised Trump's auto tariff threat and threatened an electricity export surcharge.
Trump said he was considering renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 13:20:06 UTC.
Update
Canadian ministers are due to hold a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday to announce new measures responding to the US tariffs.
The Canadian government said the measures are intended to protect and support Canadian workers and businesses.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 03:09:04 UTC.
Update
US Vice President JD Vance blamed Canada's “unreasonable last-minute demands” for the trade deal falling through.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticised Trump's auto tariff threat and said Ontario would go at Trump “full steam”.
Trump warned online of “far worse” consequences if officials did not “fall in line”.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 August 2026 at 19:14:35 UTC.
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Carney said Monday the goal was to get the best deal for Canadians, not a deal at any price or on any time frame.
Trump said Canada had been “ripping off” the United States and that “we don't need Canada, they need us”.
The Angus Reid Institute said three in four Canadians supported the government's decision to walk away from talks, while two in five had some fear about their jobs.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticised Trump's auto-tariff threat.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 August 2026 at 17:05:42 UTC.
Update
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada would not pay just “any price” for a US trade deal.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 August 2026 at 16:28:45 UTC.
Update
The Angus Reid Institute said three in four Canadians supported Mark Carney's decision to walk away from trade talks.
The Angus Reid Institute said two in five Canadians had some fear about their jobs.
Trump said Canada had been "ripping off" the United States for years and said, "we don't need Canada, they need us."
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 August 2026 at 15:14:38 UTC.
Update
Trump said tariffs on all Canadian cars, trucks, automotive parts and steel would rise to 50% on January 1, 2027.
The current US tariff affecting Canadian autos is 25% for non-US content, while imported steel generally faces a 50% duty.
Canada's retaliatory tariffs will target US steel, dairy, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said no further negotiations had been scheduled.
Greer said Washington had offered tariff reductions on softwood lumber, autos and most Canadian steel.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 August 2026 at 14:37:47 UTC.
Update
US President Donald Trump said he would raise auto and steel tariffs targeting Canada to 50% from 2027.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 August 2026 at 13:46:12 UTC.
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US President Donald Trump responded on Truth Social after Canada announced retaliatory tariffs.
Trump said Canada wanted “the benefits of being a State, without being one” and accused Canada of charging US farmers tariffs for years.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 August 2026 at 05:43:11 UTC.
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Carney said the deal collapsed partly because US negotiators introduced restrictions on Canadian trade deals with other countries at the last hour.
Carney said US negotiators made unacceptable threats involving the French language and Quebec culture.
Democratic lawmakers and governors from border states criticised Trump over the escalating trade dispute.
The Business Roundtable warned the new tariffs risk raising costs for American businesses and families and urged both governments to resume talks.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Canadians must remain united and said Trump could not be trusted.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 August 2026 at 21:07:33 UTC.
Update
Canada-US trade talks broke down on Friday in Washington.
New 50% US tariffs covering about $20 billion of Canadian goods, or 5.5% of Canadian exports to the United States, came into force.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada would impose new retaliatory tariffs targeting US steel and dairy industries from September 8.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said no new talks with Canada were planned and that the United States was moving forward with measures responding to Canadian retaliation.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 August 2026 at 17:38:44 UTC.
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada would match US tariffs “dollar for dollar.”
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 August 2026 at 03:51:50 UTC.
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Former US commerce official Christopher Padilla told AFP it is not unusual for trade negotiations to run up to a deadline and said he expected the Trump administration used the tariff threat to seek early concessions.
The source says the US Supreme Court struck down many of Trump's global tariffs earlier in the year and that Trump used an untested legal provision for the new Canada duties.
Trump's trade envoy Jamieson Greer previously said the tariffs aimed to hold Canada accountable for retaliation against the United States.
Greer cited Canadian provinces removing US alcohol products from shelves and giving better dairy market access to the European Union.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 05:30:38 UTC.
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The US Trade Representative's office said the prospective pact is set to include market access for American goods, economic security commitments, digital trade alignment and other provisions.
A Trump proclamation said the suspension followed Canada's commitment to remove the alleged discriminations or unequal impositions at issue.
Mark Carney said the prospective deal aims to address outstanding trade issues and provide more certainty and benefits for Canadian businesses, workers, farmers and families.
Trump said the Keystone XL pipeline may be revived, without giving details.
Oxford Economics identified cement, paper, printing, wood, clothing and electronic equipment manufacturers among sectors likely to be most affected.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 04:10:12 UTC.
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said there was “work still to be done” despite the US tariff pause.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 03:23:20 UTC.
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The US Trade Representative's office said the pact is set to include comprehensive market access for American goods, economic security commitments and digital trade alignment.
A Trump proclamation said the suspension followed Canada's expressed commitment to remove disputed measures.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 03:25:56 UTC.
Update
Trump linked the three-day reprieve to a deal that he said was subject to final documents.
Trump said the Keystone XL pipeline “may be awoken from the grave,” without giving details.
The White House had alleged discriminatory treatment by Canada against US alcohol, automobile and dairy products.
The planned duties would not apply to Canadian energy, potash or goods already facing sector-specific tariffs, but were set to hit products covered by the USMCA.
Trump's trade envoy Jamieson Greer said the tariffs aimed to hold Canada accountable for retaliation against the United States.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 02:53:36 UTC.
Update
Trump paused the rollout of fresh 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods for three days.
Trump said the reprieve was based on the United States and Canada having a deal, subject to finalisation of documents.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 02:30:04 UTC.
Update
The United States and Canada reached a deal to avert Trump's planned 50% tariffs.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 02:21:43 UTC.
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Mark Carney spoke by phone with Donald Trump on Tuesday afternoon about the trade negotiations.
The leaders also spoke Monday, according to the prime minister's office.
The talks were taking place hours before the planned tariffs were due to take effect at midnight.
Source note: AFP news report published on 18 August 2026 at 21:47:48 UTC.
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Politico reported that a deal to sidestep the planned tariffs awaited Trump's approval.
A White House official said any deal announcement would come directly from Trump and that other discussion should be regarded as baseless speculation until then.
Source note: AFP news report published on 18 August 2026 at 20:03:41 UTC.
Update
A spokesperson for Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed to AFP that Carney spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon about the trade negotiations.
The US Trade Representative's office did not respond to AFP queries on the matter.
Trump's trade envoy Jamieson Greer said in July the tariffs aimed to hold Canada accountable for retaliation against the United States.
Source note: AFP news report published on 18 August 2026 at 16:17:16 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Whether the further US clarifications sought by Canada will be provided is unresolved.
Whether US-Canada trade negotiations will resume and produce a deal is unresolved.
Canada's Department of Finance did not detail the feedback that led to the seafood exemption.
Source
AFP news report published on .