Trump & …. 1)Canada-U.S. trade down almost $2 billion since early 2024; 2)U.S. trade rep says Canada must lift retaliatory measures to avoid new tariffs; 3)More than 100,000 Canadian jobs at risk if CUSMA falls apart; 4) Canada, U.S. not yet ready to make tariff deal, Canada unsatisfied with latest U.S. offer: sources; 5)Canada-U.S. trade reps working on new pitch for Trump

1)Canada-U.S. trade down almost $2 billion since early 2024

Courtesy Barrie360.com and  Canadian Press
By Catherine Morrison, Aug. 6, 2026

The value of Canada’s trade with the U.S. dropped by almost $2 billion between the first quarter of 2024 and the first three months of 2026.

Rachael Dolan, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, says total trade in goods and services with the U.S. was 0.6 per cent, or $1.9 billion, lower in the first quarter of 2026 than in the same period of 2024.
Total Canada-U.S. trade in goods and services in the first three months of 2026 hit $322.8 billion, which includes $169.6 billion in exports and $153.1 billion in imports.

While Canadian exports to the U.S. declined by 1.6 per cent, or $2.8 billion, imports during that quarter increased by 0.6 per cent, or $935 million.

Dolan says precious stones and metals saw the largest percentage increase in total bilateral trade between the two years, rising by $2.8 billion, while the largest decline was in motor vehicles and parts, which fell by 18.9 per cent, or $6.7 billion.

The U.S. is ramping up pressure on Canada ahead of formal talks on CUSMA, the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement on trade, and U.S. President Donald Trump has also threatened to slap new tariffs on Canadian goods.

2)U.S. trade rep says Canada must lift retaliatory measures to avoid new tariffs

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Kelly Geraldine Malone, Aug. 14, 2026.

United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer described talks with his Canadian colleagues as “constructive” on Friday but said Canada would have to lift its retaliatory measures in order to avoid new tariffs.

Canadian officials have intensified trade talks with their American counterparts in recent weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to impose 50 per cent tariffs on a range of Canadian goods starting Aug. 19.

The Trump administration says the new duties are a response to provincial bans on U.S. liquor, Canada’s supply-managed dairy system and quotas on certain U.S. vehicles.

“These tariffs that are coming in, they are a response to Canadian retaliatory measures, like the kind of things that China would do,” Greer said in Des Moines Friday, where he was touring a tire factory and attending the Iowa State Fair.

“And so those are things that would have to be resolved.”

Greer met with Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Janice Charette, Canada’s chief trade negotiator, in Washington earlier this week. LeBlanc and Greer have met four times in recent weeks.

LeBlanc is expected to update provincial and territorial trade ministers and members of the prime minister’s advisory committee on Canada-U.S. relations later Friday, a spokesperson from the minister’s office said.

LeBlanc said on social media Thursday evening that negotiations are ongoing.

“We continue to advance Canada’s interests,” he said.

Greer said Friday there are elements of U.S. trade policy that Canada’s negotiators don’t like but added he’s having “constructive negotiations with the Canadians.”

“At the end of the day, President Trump, the United States, we are going to do what is best for America,” he said.

“If there’s a way to, you know, bring Canada along with that, we’re happy to do that, but we are mostly focused first and foremost on making sure President Trump’s trade policy is executed.”

Greer did not provide details of the trade talks but said the U.S. has had major trade issues with Canada for decades. He said any “potential resolution has to include all of these on a pathway forward.”

Greer argued the new tariffs don’t amount to a trade war. He said the U.S. is trying to protect domestic supply chains and is not singling out Canada. If a country retaliates, the U.S. will respond, he added.

“My sense is the Canadians, they want to have a more conciliatory approach but we’ll see,” Greer said.

Unlike most of Trump’s other tariffs, the new duties would have no exemptions for goods that comply with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement on trade, widely known as CUSMA.

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette said Thursday in Montreal that some industries may find themselves in “survival mode” if the 50 per cent tariffs take effect.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Thursday in Guelph, Ont., that he’s open to returning U.S. booze to the province’s shelves if there is a “fair deal” that protects Canadian steel, aluminum, auto, forestry, agricultural and manufacturing sectors.

— With files from David Baxter in Ottawa

3)More than 100,000 Canadian jobs at risk if CUSMA falls apart

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Staff.August 12, 2026

Ontario’s manufacturing sector could be among the biggest casualties if the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement falls apart, according to a new economic analysis that highlights what’s at stake as trade talks continue between Ottawa and Washington.

The report from Oxford Economics estimates Canada would lose more than 100,000 jobs if the trade pact were to collapse. Ontario and Quebec would be among the provinces facing the greatest impacts, particularly in the auto, metals and manufacturing sectors.

The United States would also feel significant economic pain, with projected losses exceeding 214,000 jobs.

Report points to gains if new agreement reached

The analysis also outlines a more positive scenario if negotiators successfully renew or update the agreement.

In that case, Canada could gain nearly 98,000 jobs, while the United States could add roughly 137,000 positions.

The findings come as governments and businesses on both sides of the border watch ongoing trade discussions closely. The integrated nature of North America’s manufacturing supply chains means disruptions can affect industries and workers in all three countries.

Trade talks continue ahead of tariff deadline

The report is being released as negotiators work to finalize a new trade proposal before a planned 50 per cent U.S. tariff on hundreds of Canadian products is set to take effect next week.

Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc was back in Washington on Tuesday for discussions with U.S. officials.

LeBlanc says talks are continuing and Canada remains focused on “firmly advancing and defending Canadian interests.”

Businesses across Ontario’s manufacturing corridor are watching developments closely, given the province’s deep trade ties with the United States and the importance of cross-border commerce to the regional economy.

The outcome of the negotiations could help determine whether North America sees new job growth under an updated trade framework, or significant losses if the current agreement unravels.

with files from The Canadian Press

4) Canada, U.S. not yet ready to make tariff deal, Canada unsatisfied with latest U.S. offer: sources

Canadian and American negotiators have exchanged a number of offers in recent weeks

Courtesy CBC News, Darren Major, and Kate McKenna, Aug 12, 2026

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Canada’s chief trade negotiator Janice Charette sit down with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on July 29, 2026. LeBlanc and Greer have meet three times in the past three weeks. (Dominic LeBlanc/X)

As the clock ticks toward U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff deadline, Canada and the U.S. aren’t at a point where a tariff deal can be reached — and Canadian officials are not satisfied with the latest U.S. offer, according to two sources with knowledge of the trade talks.

According to sources on both sides of the border, the Americans offered a new proposal on Tuesday which would lower some of the sectoral tariffs but not to the degree that the Canadian side would like to see. CBC News is not naming the sources because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Negotiators have been going back and forth in recent weeks in an effort to reach some sort of deal before Aug. 19, which is when Trump has promised a 50 per cent levy on hundreds of Canadian goods in addition to the sectoral tariffs already in place.

The Americans are seeking a deal that would see preferential access to Canadian critical minerals and cover security and energy, the sources said.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc has been in Washington to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer three times in as many weeks. CBC News previously reported that the two are aiming to present Trump with a path to a potential trade deal as early as Monday.

5)Canada-U.S. trade reps working on new pitch for Trump

Courtesy CBC News, Darren Major, and Kate McKenna, August 11

CBC News has learned Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are working on a proposal to pitch to U.S. President Donald Trump before a tariff deadline that could see hundreds of Canadian goods hit with a 50 per cent levy.

Neither LeBlanc nor Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, answered reporters’ questions after they were seen leaving Greer’s office on Tuesday afternoon.

LeBlanc later posted to X saying that discussions are “ongoing” and he and Charette will “continue to engage at the negotiation table.”

In addition to trying to dissuade Americans from levying new tariffs, LeBlanc and Charette are looking for relief on tariffs the U.S. has slapped on Canadian steel, aluminum, lumber and autos.

Canada is also hoping the ongoing trade talks between the two countries will result in a renewal of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) after the Trump administration last month declined to extend the deal past 2036.

When announcing the Aug. 19 tariffs, the U.S. raised a number of trade irritants, including Canada’s retaliation against U.S. trade policy with the removal of U.S. alcohol from provincial store shelves and alleged Canadian discrimination against U.S. motor vehicles and dairy.

Canada prepared to halt booze bans, meet other U.S. demands in exchange for tariff relief: sources

Canada doesn’t ‘get credit’ for rolling back trade irritants, U.S. envoy says

What tariffs are still in place? Tracking the Canada-U.S. trade war

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wrote to Carney on Sunday, calling on him to show some “backbone” as trade negotiations ramp up.

Poilievre said Canadians deserve a “good deal” that includes zero tariffs on softwood lumber, an end to sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminum, a tariff-free auto pact and full exemption to Buy America rules on infrastructure projects at all levels of government.

“No more pursuing policies of a managed decline at home. No more caving,” Poilievre wrote.

Industry sources previously told CBC News that Canada is preparing to meet some U.S. demands — including ending the booze bans — in exchange for tariff relief.