Summary
- Dominic
LeBlanc to meet U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. - Meeting
in Washington scheduled for Tuesday this week. - Follows
Canada lifting some retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. - Tariffs
lifted to align with U.S. exemptions under CUSMA.
According to LeBlanc’s office, he will visit the US capital
on Tuesday.
Last Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney declared that Canada
would match U.S. tariff exemptions for items covered under the
Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) by removing some retaliatory duties on
U.S. imports.
Canada will continue to impose counter-tariffs on autos,
steel, and aluminum.
Prior to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision earlier this
month to increase levies on Canada to 35%, LeBlanc has stated that the
retaliatory tariffs were a significant area of contention in negotiations.
Although CUSMA-compliant goods are exempt
from those tariffs, Trump’s separate tariffs on important industries are also
hurting Canada.
The meeting aims to build on ongoing talks to ease tensions
and possibly reach a bilateral agreement that addresses tariffs on steel,
aluminum, copper, lumber, and autos.
How will LeBlanc and Lutnick address remaining auto, steel
and aluminum tariffs?
Canada has already removed most retaliatory tariffs on U.S.
goods but is maintaining 25% tariffs on U.S. steel, aluminum, and vehicle
imports, which are separate from the broader CUSMA trade exemptions.
LeBlanc has described these remaining tariffs as a major
sticking point in ongoing negotiations, especially following President Trump’s
decision to raise U.S. duties on certain Canadian goods to 35%.
The goal of the talks is to lessen the impact of these
tariffs on both sides and seek a resolution that provides more stability for
trade and manufacturing across critical sectors.
