US, Canada meet to finalize trade deal as details emerge

TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — United States (US) and Canadian negotiators were set to resume trade talks in Washington on Thursday, after Prime Minister Mark Carney briefed Canada's regional leaders on the outlines of a pact to stabilise bilateral trade. Canada's minister in charge of US-Canada trade, Dominic LeBlanc, will meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer shortly after midday, Ottawa confirmed. On Wednesday, both sides said they had moved close to a final agreement, a deal that could ease tensions following months of acrimony triggered by President Donald Trump's punishing tariffs.

A new spate of 50-per cent US tariffs were set to take effect on Canadian imports on Wednesday, but Trump said the day before that he was delaying enactment for 72 hours as a deal looked close. Details of the prospective agreement remain unclear, but Carney on Wednesday updated the leaders of Canada's provinces and territories on the negotiations. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston told reporters Carney made specific requests that the United States wanted implemented by Canadian provinces.

Those include restocking US wine and liquor, which several provinces removed in retaliation for Trump's tariffs on Canadian autos, steel, aluminum and lumber. "The prime minister has asked us, as premiers, as provinces, to return the US alcohol to the shelves," Houston said. that has kind of really bothered the United States," he added.

The leader of the Atlantic coast province noted that even if US alcohol returned to Canadian stores, there is no guarantee people will buy it, citing deep-seated frustration over Trump's treatment of Canada, including his repeated annexation threats. Beyond the provisions in any trade deal, there's "the emotional impact of what Canadians have experienced," Houston said. "It has been emotionally draining and it has had an emotional impact that will last a long time." Carney also asked provinces to ensure they remove any language in procurement policies that "specifically excludes the United States," Houston said.

Provinces could still favor Canadian suppliers, but cannot have direct language that precludes a US supplier from a project. Houston declined to discuss any proposed US tariff reductions, but broadly said the agreement appeared to be "the best possible outcome we can hope for in dealing with this administration." It also prese…