LeBlanc Meets Greer as Wednesday Tariff Deadline Looms — SkimNews
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- Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc met virtually with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for an hour Sunday, joined by chief negotiator Janice Charette, with talks called "constructive" but unresolved as LeBlanc remained in Washington through the weekend.
- Section 232 auto tariffs are the biggest sticking point: the U.S. wants Canada to accept a 15% rate with exemption only for U.S. content, while Canada argues single-digit profit margins make that unviable and is pushing to exempt the full value of all USMCA-zone content.
- Section 232 lumber tariffs see the U.S. refusing any reduction, instead pointing Canada to a separate Commerce Department review — with fears in Ottawa that Washington would raise the 232 duties once other lumber tariffs are lowered.
- Charette told U.S. counterparts that imposition of new tariffs would represent a "cliff" in negotiations, forcing Canada into retaliation; Ottawa is preparing counter-measures on $20 billion of U.S. goods but has ruled out using oil exports as leverage.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney returned from a vacation in Italy Sunday and will be in St. John's Monday; his office did not respond to questions about whether he has spoken with Trump or whether such calls are planned.
- Former Quebec premier Jean Charest, sitting on Carney's U.S. advisory committee, said the PM faces "only bad choices" and warned the U.S. should expect a "strong response" if the Wednesday tariffs hit.
Why it matters: If the Wednesday deadline passes without a deal, 50% duties stack on top of existing tariffs covering Canadian electronics, dairy, alcohol and wood — threatening Canadian auto parts manufacturing described as facing an "existential fear," B.C. lumber operations where mills risk closure, and forcing Carney's government into retaliation that excludes its biggest energy lever.
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