Economy & Trade
Canada trade deal terms unfair, PM says
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the terms of a US trade deal were “unfair,” as Canada and the United States remained locked in a tariff dispute before a deadline for new US duties.
The United States had said Canada declined to finalize a trade pact before the deadline. New US tariffs of 50% on a range of Canadian products were set to take effect at that point.
Officials from both countries had been trying to reach an agreement in Washington. Earlier, Canadian negotiator Dominic LeBlanc had said there was “more work to do” on the deal.
Canada has been seeking relief from US tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum, which have hit its economy and led to job losses. Details of the proposed agreement have not been publicly confirmed.
Trump had said the United States “should be able to have a deal with Canada,” citing his relationship with Carney. After Carney briefed provincial and territorial leaders, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said US tariffs were likely to be reduced in some areas but not removed entirely.
Canadian Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre criticised any deal that left one-sided tariffs on Canadian industry. Regional leaders said Washington had been especially irritated by Canada's retaliatory removal of US alcohol and wine from liquor stores.
Carney asked provinces to restock US alcohol; some agreed, while other provincial leaders said they wanted to review the deal or take a tougher stance. Canada and the United States also still need to agree on revisions to USMCA, the North American free trade agreement that Trump declined to renew last month.
Update
Canada's prime minister said the US trade deal terms were “unfair”.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 August 2026 at 03:49:48 UTC.
Update
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canada declined to finalize the trade deal under terms agreed earlier in the week.
Greer said Washington had offered tariff reductions in sectors including steel and aluminum.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 August 2026 at 03:41:31 UTC.
Update
The United States said Canada declined to finalize a trade pact ahead of the tariff deadline.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 August 2026 at 03:35:17 UTC.
Update
A Canadian negotiator said there was “more work to do” on a US trade deal.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 23:33:36 UTC.
Update
US President Donald Trump said hours before the deadline that the United States should be able to have a deal with Canada.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 21:26:41 UTC.
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Canada's opposition Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre criticised the prospect of one-sided tariffs on Canadian industry.
Poilievre questioned how Canadian companies could compete with American companies if only Canadian firms paid the tariff.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 20:13:01 UTC.
Update
US and Canadian negotiators were back at the table on Friday before a midnight tariff deadline.
Canadian negotiator Dominic LeBlanc and his team entered US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer's office shortly after midday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 17:03:41 UTC.
Update
US and Canadian negotiators were set to continue talks on Friday morning before a midnight tariff deadline.
Canadian negotiator Dominic LeBlanc was expected at US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer's office by midday, Ottawa said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney asked provinces to restock US alcohol and wine, with some premiers agreeing and others reserving judgment or objecting.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said there was no going back to the pre-Trump trade status quo.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 14:42:51 UTC.
Update
Canadian negotiator Dominic LeBlanc said the United States and Canada were “very close” to a final trade deal after three hours of talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Quebec Premier Christine Frechette said she would decide on restocking US alcohol after studying the deal.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said he was prepared to put US alcohol back on shelves but said Canada “should fight.”
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said some Canadian goods would still face duties and called the proposed deal “best-in-class.”
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 August 2026 at 20:23:07 UTC.
Update
US and Canadian negotiators resumed trade talks in Washington shortly after midday Thursday.
Canadian trade minister Dominic LeBlanc was in Washington to meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
LeBlanc told reporters he was looking forward to being back at work but gave no details on the negotiations.
Canadian media reports said US demands may include commitments on defence procurement and critical mineral supply.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 August 2026 at 17:14:59 UTC.
Update
US and Canadian negotiators were set to resume trade talks in Washington on Thursday.
Canada confirmed that Dominic LeBlanc would meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer shortly after midday.
Prime Minister Mark Carney briefed provincial and territorial leaders on the outlines of a possible agreement.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said Carney asked provinces to return US alcohol to shelves and remove procurement language specifically excluding US suppliers.
Houston said the prospective agreement appeared to preserve the core elements of Canada’s supply management system.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 August 2026 at 14:11:26 UTC.
Update
Bloomberg News reported that the tentative pact would halve US tariffs on some Canadian steel and aluminum exports to 25 percent, though details are not final and different rates could apply to derivative products.
Trump said the United States may bring some Canadian tariffs down to the level applied to other countries because Canada was paying a higher tariff.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 20:37:06 UTC.
Update
CNBC reported that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer expressed confidence that the two sides had a pact that would strengthen the North American economy.
The White House had alleged discriminatory treatment by Canada against US alcohol, automobile and dairy products when announcing the planned 50% tariffs.
Greer said the sides had eliminated some irritants from the past year and were taking next steps, according to CNBC.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 17:40:07 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Details of the proposed agreement have not been publicly confirmed.
The specific terms Carney described as unfair are not detailed in the item.
The final scope and timing of any tariff changes after the talks are not confirmed.
Source
AFP news report published on .