logo
LeBlanc ‘encouraged' after latest U.S. talks as Trump tariff deadline looms

LeBlanc ‘encouraged' after latest U.S. talks as Trump tariff deadline looms

Global Newsa day ago
Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Thursday he's feeling 'encouraged' after meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and American lawmakers in Washington ahead of next week's tariff deadline.
But LeBlanc also suggested that a new economic and security arrangement with the United States may not materialize in time for U.S. President Donald Trump's latest deadline of Aug. 1.
'Canadians expect us to take the time necessary to get the best deal we can in the interest of Canadian workers,' LeBlanc said outside the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington.
'So we are only going to be in a position to accept a deal when the prime minister decides that it is the best deal we can get in the interest of Canadian workers and the Canadian economy.'
Trump has sent letters to multiple nations, including Canada, saying that if no deal is made by Aug. 1, he will impose high tariffs on imports to the United States.
Story continues below advertisement
While Trump's letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney threatened Canada with 35 per cent tariffs, the White House has said the levies will not be applied to imports that comply with the Canada-U.S-Mexico Agreement on trade.
Canada is also being hit with Trump's tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles, and will be affected by copper duties that are also expected to kick in on Aug. 1.
5:23
WA state senator says Trump doesn't understand effects of trade war
The Trump administration has announced only a handful of trade deal frameworks with other nations since the president first threatened his so-called 'Liberation Day' tariffs in April. Trump this week said his administration made deals with Japan and the Philippines, adding to previous agreements with Indonesia, Vietnam and the United Kingdom.
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
While many details of the frameworks remain vague, all of them include some level of tariff – and it's not clear whether they would shield countries from Trump's plan to impose further sectoral duties on things like semiconductors and lumber.
Story continues below advertisement
LeBlanc said 'complex negotiations' are continuing between Canada and the United States and he will be returning to Washington next week.
He described his meeting with Lutnick as productive and cordial. LeBlanc, who was joined in the meetings by Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman, also had face time with Republican senators Kevin Cramer, Roger Marshall, Shelley Moore Capito, Todd Young and Tim Scott.
LeBlanc said they discussed border security and defence issues and the American lawmakers shared a 'desire to see more stability and predictability in the relationship with the United States.'
'My conversations have focused on how we share so many priorities of President Trump's administration that we should be able to figure out together a deal that's in the best interest of Canadian workers, and obviously they are going to do their side of the table in terms of the American economy and American workers,' he said.
1:55
'Only the best deal for Canada': Carney on negotiating tariffs, trade with Trump
Federal officials have remained tight-lipped about what Trump's team has said it wants from Canada.
Story continues below advertisement
After this week's trade deal frameworks were announced, Trump boasted on social media that he would only consider lowering tariff rates if countries open their markets to the United States. The president also said Japan would invest $550 billion in the U.S. at his 'direction.'
Trump said Thursday that Japan 'bought it down basically,' referring to the lower tariff rate.
'I would let other countries buy it down,' he said.
2:05
'Largest trade deal in history': Trump finalizes US trade pact with Japan, cuts tariffs to 15%
When Trump first threatened Canada with tariffs, he claimed it was due to the cross-border flow of deadly fentanyl. Ottawa responded with a boosted border plan and named a 'fentanyl czar.'
Ottawa walked back its digital services tax last month after Trump threatened to halt all trade talks. Carney last week announced measures to stop China from dumping steel in Canada.
Story continues below advertisement
Hillman said those efforts help Canada in its ongoing negotiations.
'In our discussion with the American senators this week, the American administration, the measures that Canada has taken on steel in particular… are some of the strongest in the world,' she said.
'And that has been recognized and very much appreciated. So we are making some positive progress.'
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski joined a bipartisan group of American lawmakers in Ottawa last week. The Republican said Thursday that 'we would all like to get to a better place with our trade relationship with Canada' but suggested it's not likely to happen before Aug. 1.
Canada cannot be treated 'as yet one more country that we need to reconcile tariffs on' because of shared economic and national security issues, she said.
'I wish that I could say, 'It feels good,' that this is all going to be taken care of before the first of August, but I'm not sensing that,' she said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

New rail spur line aims to connect Coaldale to global markets
New rail spur line aims to connect Coaldale to global markets

Global News

time11 minutes ago

  • Global News

New rail spur line aims to connect Coaldale to global markets

Last month, a Dutch company officially started operating at their first Canadian facility. NewCold's cold storage facility in Coaldale, Alta., was a $222 million project that has already added dozens of full-time positions, with management saying the employment ceiling hasn't yet been reached. However, exports out of the 323,000-square-foot facility aren't moving at the level the new building is capable of. To help move things along, the Government of Alberta announced on Friday its support of a new rail spur running through the heart of Coaldale's industrial park. A rail spur is a short offshoot of a main line, and in this case the spur will connect with the Canadian Pacific Kansas City running through town. 'This project will provide us with a connection to the NewCold storage facility, which will allow local producers to transport southern Alberta grown and manufactured goods to a global consumer base in the agri-food processing sector,' said Devin Dreeshen, Alberta's minister of transportation and economic corridors. Story continues below advertisement In total, the Alberta government is spending $3.475 million via a grant through the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program. 'Coaldale is a growing hub for agri-food and industry in southern Alberta. By investing in key infrastructure like this rail extension, we're helping unlock the region's full economic potential and positioning Coaldale as a driver of long-term growth,' said Dreeshen. Despite being a small town, Coaldale is situated at the heart of the agri-food corridor on Highway 3. Combining its location with a willingness to expand the agricultural industry and government support, Coaldale's mayor is declaring a bright future for his town. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Coaldale is open for business and we mean it,' said Jack Van Rijn, mayor of Coaldale. In fact, he says this is a true game-changer for the southern Alberta community. 'This project represents one of the most significant industrial infrastructure investments in Coaldale's history.' The NewCold facility isn't the only major agriculture investment in the region in recent years, either. In 2023, McCain announced a $600 million investment to double its potato operation just outside of town. 1:43 Coaldale McCain Foods plant looks to add 260 hires to workforce 'If you build it they will come,' said Grant Hunter, Alberta's associate minister of water. Story continues below advertisement He, like Van Rijn, says the region has a strong economic future. 'I think it's just the beginning. I've been saying this for six years, I believe that southern Alberta is going to be some of the best real estate investment in Canada.' Hunter says the government is serious about making an impact in the area. 'This partnership between the province, Town of Coaldale and private industry is exactly the kind of collaboration we need to drive long-term growth, support job creation and help establish southern Alberta as a leading centre for agri-food production and efficient supply chain distribution.' NewCold's area site manager, Derek Bedke, agrees that the area is ripe for business. 'When you're working with local governments and provincial governments that allow you to operate quickly, it really facilitates the progress and it makes it a very easy decision to partner with towns like Coaldale and provinces like Alberta,' said Bedke. That quick work is exactly what Van Rijn says he is happy to see. 'From the time that we shook hands on the deal moving forward, they had shovels in the ground less than a year later, so it's just a testament that southern Alberta, the Town of Coaldale and Lethbridge County is open for business.' Story continues below advertisement The rail spur project will have a total estimated cost of $8 million, with the town of Coaldale and NewCold picking up what the grant doesn't cover.

New Westminster councillor questions taxpayer-funded cafeteria at city hall
New Westminster councillor questions taxpayer-funded cafeteria at city hall

Global News

time11 minutes ago

  • Global News

New Westminster councillor questions taxpayer-funded cafeteria at city hall

A New Westminster councillor says the cafeteria at city hall is losing too much money and it needs to go. The cafeteria, located in the basement, is open to the public but is mostly used by city hall staff. It has menu items such as a sandwich for $4 or a full breakfast starting at $5.75. 'The cafeteria has lost close to $350,000 in tax dollars just in the last three years alone,' Coun. Daniel Fontaine told Global News. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy He said the cafeteria no longer makes sense, considering the range of food options nearby and the city's 23-per cent spike in property taxes in three years. 'The fact that we are facing such, you know, skyrocketing property taxes, it's time for us to look at things like the cafeteria,' Fontaine added. Story continues below advertisement Erika Mashig, the deputy director or Parks, Policy and Planning for the City of New Westminster, told Global News they believe the bistro to be a valuable asset that meets the specific operational and community needs of the city.

Another federal court blocks Trump's push to end birthright citizenship
Another federal court blocks Trump's push to end birthright citizenship

Vancouver Sun

time11 minutes ago

  • Vancouver Sun

Another federal court blocks Trump's push to end birthright citizenship

BOSTON — A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from ending birthright citizenship for the children of parents who are in the U.S. illegally, issuing the third court ruling blocking the birthright order nationwide since a key Supreme Court decision in June. U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin, joining another district court as well as an appellate panel of judges, found that a nationwide injunction granted to more than a dozen states remains in force under an exception to the Supreme Court ruling. That decision restricted the power of lower-court judges to block government actions on a nationwide basis. The states have argued Trump's birthright citizenship order is blatantly unconstitutional and threatens millions of dollars for health insurance services that are contingent on citizenship status. The issue is expected to move quickly back to the nation's highest court. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Lawyers for the government had argued Sorokin should narrow the reach of his earlier ruling granting a preliminary injunction, arguing it should be 'tailored to the States' purported financial injuries.' 'The record does not support a finding that any narrower option would feasibly and adequately protect the plaintiffs from the injuries they have shown they are likely to suffer,' Sorokin wrote. Sorokin acknowledged his order would not be the last word on birthright citizenship. Trump and his administration 'are entitled to pursue their interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment, and no doubt the Supreme Court will ultimately settle the question,' Sorokin wrote. 'But in the meantime, for purposes of this lawsuit at this juncture, the Executive Order is unconstitutional.' The administration has not yet appealed any of the recent court rulings. Trump's efforts to deny citizenship to children born to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily will remain blocked unless and until the Supreme Court says otherwise. An email asking for the White House's response to the ruling was sent Friday. A federal judge in New Hampshire issued a ruling earlier this month prohibiting Trump's executive order from taking effect nationwide in a new class-action lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Joseph LaPlante in New Hampshire had paused his own decision to allow for the Trump administration to appeal, but with no appeal filed in the last week, his order went into effect. On Wednesday, a San Francisco-based appeals court found the president's executive order unconstitutional and affirmed a lower court's nationwide block. A Maryland-based judge said this week that she would do the same if an appeals court signed off. The justices ruled last month that lower courts generally can't issue nationwide injunctions, but it didn't rule out other court orders that could have nationwide effects, including in class-action lawsuits and those brought by states. The Supreme Court did not decide whether the underlying citizenship order is constitutional. Plaintiffs in the Boston case earlier argued that the principle of birthright citizenship is 'enshrined in the Constitution,' and that Trump does not have the authority to issue the order, which they called a 'flagrantly unlawful attempt to strip hundreds of thousands of American-born children of their citizenship based on their parentage.' They also argue that Trump's order halting automatic citizenship for babies born to people in the U.S. illegally or temporarily would cost states funding they rely on to 'provide essential services' — from foster care to health care for low-income children, to 'early interventions for infants, toddlers, and students with disabilities.' At the heart of the lawsuits is the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified in 1868 after the Civil War and the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision. That decision found that Scott, an enslaved man, wasn't a citizen despite having lived in a state where slavery was outlawed. The Trump administration has asserted that children of noncitizens are not 'subject to the jurisdiction' of the United States and therefore not entitled to citizenship. ____ Associated Press reporter Mark Sherman in Washington contributed. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store