Canada reports progress in U.S. tariff deal talks

Canada and the United States are on the cusp of reaching a trade agreement, with officials reporting substantial progress in ongoing negotiations. Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's minister responsible for trade with the U.S., described the situation as "very close" after a meeting in Washington D.C. with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

"We are very close. We continue to make progress, and we will stay here to do the necessary work," LeBlanc told reporters. The urgency stems from a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump. If a deal is not struck by Saturday at 06:01 Danish time, the U.S. will impose tariffs on Canadian goods.

LeBlanc and Canada's chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, engaged in over three hours of discussions with Greer. Following the meeting, Charette was expected to continue the talks. Unnamed sources suggest the proposed agreement could see the overall punitive tariff on Canadian-made vehicles decrease from 25% to 15%. Tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum are also reportedly set to be halved, falling to 25%.

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We are very close. We continue to make progress, and we will stay here to do the necessary work.