Canada says U.S. midterms will not alter trade talks stance
Canada says the outcome of the U.S. midterm elections is not shifting Ottawa's approach to ongoing trade discussions with Washington. The comments come as both sides continue working toward a possible deal, even though Canadian officials say some issues remain unresolved.
Highlights
- Canadian minister Dominic LeBlanc confirms U.S. midterm election results will not change Canada's stance in ongoing trade negotiations.
- LeBlanc plans discussions with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in the coming days.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney states more negotiation is needed despite President Trump's claim of progress, noting Washington has dropped some demands.
Minister signals continuity in trade approach
As reported by Reuters, Dominic LeBlanc, the Canadian minister responsible for U.S. trade ties, says the election results are of interest but do not have any significant impact on the government's focus and work.Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday, LeBlanc says he plans to speak over the next few days with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Negotiations continue despite political backdrop
The Canadian position indicates Ottawa is separating the U.S. domestic political outcome from the direction of bilateral trade negotiations, keeping attention on the substance of the talks rather than electoral shifts.Trump says on Tuesday that the United States is close to making a trade deal with Canada, but Prime Minister Mark Carney says more work remains and that Washington has dropped some demands.
The opening of the New Yalu River Bridge between Dandong, China, and North Korea marked a major step toward reviving cross-border trade after years of disruption. In our earlier report, we noted that the new crossing is expected to improve logistics for heavy equipment and raw materials, although overall trade is still constrained by sanctions and unlikely to return quickly to pre-2017 levels.