LeBlanc says ‘we’ll have as many meetings as it takes’ as Canada-U.S. trade talks continue

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WASHINGTON – With just six days to go before another wave of tariffs hit Canadian exports, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Chief Trade Negotiator Janice Charette met face to face with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Thursday.

The meeting took place inside Greer’s office, just steps away from the White House, and lasted 90 minutes. It’s the latest in a series of high stakes talks between top trade negotiators from both sides of the border in recent days.

As LeBlanc stepped outside following Thursday’s meeting, CTV News asked the minister how many more sessions the two sides are expected to have.

“We’ll have as many meetings as it takes,” LeBlanc said.

LeBlanc will brief the Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations on Friday afternoon, multiple sources with knowledge of the meeting confirmed to CTV News.

A senior government source confirmed to CTV News LeBlanc and Charette are also expected to meet with provincial and territorial trade ministers Friday to brief them on the on-going trade talks.

U.S. President Donald Trump promised to impose 50 per cent tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods on Aug 19. Trump has already imposed 15 to 50 per cent tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper products, 25 per cent tariffs on autos and trucks and 10 per cent tariffs on softwood timber and lumber.

• Tariff deadline: Former diplomat warns of looming trade deal

Talks have intensified with the deadline looming and LeBlanc has spent most of this week in the U.S. capital. CTV News has learned that Canadian and U.S. trade officials are hoping to have a layout of a deal in front of Trump before next Wednesday.

However, Team Canada believes Trump has not yet been briefed on the state of the talks, according to a senior source close to the Canadian negotiating team.

On Wednesday, sources also confirmed to CTV News that Canada’s lead trade negotiator Janice Charrette warned her American counterparts that if Trump’s team puts new tariffs in place next week, further trade negotiations may be at risk.

The new 50 per cent tariffs are the follow-through to a handful of American grievances with Canada’s economic structure:

U.S. grievances

• Auto tariffs: Canada’s auto tariffs apply to vehicles that aren’t covered under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade agreement, known as CUSMA. They also apply to non-Canadian and non-Mexican parts of vehicles that are protected. Those tariffs are a countermeasure to U.S. levies on Canada’s auto industry, according to the Canadian government.
• Dairy sector: Canada has separate trade deals with the U.S. and the European Union. The White House argues that the EU deal is less restrictive than Canada’s agreement with the U.S., which it claims amounts to discrimination.
• Alcohol bans: All provinces (except Alberta and Saskatchewan) and territories have independently decided to drop American alcoholic products from liquor-store shelves. These bans were put in place in retaliation to Trump’s tariffs and rhetoric against Canada.

According to one industry source, it was conveyed to Greer that there is no way the federal government can push the provinces to return U.S. alcohol to store shelves without comprehensive and meaningful tariff relief.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he’s not interested in restocking U.S. booze until negotiators strike a deal that will protect Ontario’s manufacturing industry. Asked if he would accept a deal that sees tariffs reduced, but not eliminated, he said “we have to match tariff for tariff.”

“We’re their No. 1 customer, folks,” he added, referring to American imports to Canada.

U.S. Customs data shows the U.S. has exported US$176-billion worth of goods to Canada and imported US$200 billion.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson says Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette plans to convene emergency meetings this week as her province braces for another layer of American tariffs.

With files from Vassy Kapelos, CTV News chief political correspondent