The Prime Minister has updated the Premiers on Canada’s trade negotiations strategy.
Mark Carney spoke with them virtually on Wednesday, according to a news release from the Prime Minister’s Office.
He told them that the federal government is still trying to negotiate a trade deal with the U.S., but in the meantime, tariffs from the states are still impacting a lot of industries in Canada.
The Premiers reiterated that they want to move quickly to diversify trade from the U.S. and improve trade between provinces, which they have been working on for months now.
They also highlighted the impact on softwood lumber. Although the Prime Minister underscored the multi-million-dollar supports announced for the sector on Wednesday.
Carney reiterated that he and the feds are set on getting “the best deal for Canadians” in trade talks with the U.S., the release said.
While Carney says he is determined, the previous trade deal deadline of Aug. 1 has come and gone.
And only a few days before that deadline, President Donald Trump said “we haven’t been focused” on making the deal. He said there wasn’t much negotiation and that Canada may end up just paying tariffs.
