Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is heading to Washington on Tuesday, August 26, to reopen negotiations on a new trade agreement between Canada and the United States.
During this visit, the minister is scheduled to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Howard Lutnick, according to government sources.
This move follows Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement of increased countervailing duties on certain American products, in line with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
LeBlanc has previously indicated that these duties represent a significant barrier to negotiations, particularly following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision earlier in August to raise tariffs on Canada to 35%.
The minister noted that his goal is to achieve a bilateral agreement that alleviates the impact of these tariffs, which affect products such as steel, aluminum, copper, wood, and the automotive industry.
Analysts believe that the increase in Canadian countervailing duties could help ease trade tensions ahead of the CUSMA review scheduled for next year.
It is worth noting that Canada imposed a 25% tariff on several American products last March, including orange juice, clothing, shoes, alcoholic beverages, and household appliances.
