Canada says little progress in US tariff talks on steel and cars
A Canadian official says progress in trade talks with Washington is limited, even though President Trump has suggested a deal could come soon.
Illustration: AI-generated image
Canada says there has been little movement in its trade talks with the United States, despite signals from Washington that a deal on tariffs could be close. A Canadian government official directly involved in the negotiations described progress as limited, according to Reuters, as reported by Index.hr.
The talks followed a announcement on Monday that the two countries were working on an agreement to ease US tariffs on Canadian steel and cars.
What is on the table
The discussions focus on tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the US trade law. These are duties of up to 50 per cent on Canadian steel and 25 per cent on cars. The US Department of Commerce, which enforces the measures, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to the report.
Mixed signals
On Sunday, President Donald Trump said he expected the trade dispute to be settled "soon", but gave no details. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday that the negotiations had "intensified slightly".
The official's more cautious assessment suggests the two sides are still some way from an agreement.
The political backdrop
The timing is notable. US midterm elections are due next week, and Reuters reports that Mr Trump's Republican Party could lose control of Congress. The tariffs on Canadian imports are also adding pressure, as Republican candidates in states along the border are calling for an end to the dispute.
For now, no deal has been announced, and the details of any possible easing of the tariffs remain unclear.
