Canada-US Trade Talks Stall Over Key Issues

Canada and the US are still far from reaching a trade deal, despite regular meetings between officials. Canadian Minister Dominic LeBlanc told an advisory committee that they're 'quite far away' from an agreement that Prime Minister can sign off on.

LeBlanc is in Washington with his chief trade negotiator and a team of officials to discuss the draft trade deal. The August 19 deadline for new 50% tariffs is approaching, which would cover nearly $20-billion of Canadian goods or about 5.2% of Canada's exports to the US.

The tariffs would apply to products that qualify for preferential treatment under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, posing an added risk to Canada's economy. LeBlanc has stepped up his engagement with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, meeting him four times in three weeks.