Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to display more resolve in the ongoing trade discussions with the United States. In a letter made public to journalists, Poilievre and his Canada-U.S. relations critic, Shuvaloy Majumdar, expressed concern that Ottawa has acquiesced to several of Trump’s requests over the past year.
They highlighted actions such as scrapping the digital service tax, eliminating Canada’s counter-tariffs, and involving the United States in an agreement to share net toll revenue from the newly operational Gordie Howe International Bridge linking Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, Mich. Poilievre and Majumdar disputed Carney’s assertion that no deal is better than a poor deal, pointing to job losses in Canadian cities reliant on cross-border supply chains.
Poilievre criticized Carney for yielding ground on various American demands without reciprocal benefits, citing escalating American tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and lumber. Poilievre emphasized the need for a favorable agreement that includes zero tariffs on softwood lumber, the removal of sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminum, a tariff-free auto pact, and complete exemption from Buy America regulations on government infrastructure projects.
As the U.S. prepares to impose 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods on August 19, trade negotiations between the two countries have intensified. The Conservative Party reiterated its call to bolster Canada’s negotiating stance by establishing a strategic reserve of critical minerals open to nations granting tariff-free access to their markets.
While Canada and Mexico expressed interest in extending the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) for another 16 years, the United States opted for rolling annual reviews instead. Dairy farmers in Canada have urged the government not to make concessions regarding the supply management system that protects the Canadian dairy industry. Carney reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the system, while the Dairy Farmers of Canada cautioned against further concessions in trade talks.
Industry sources have revealed that the Canadian government is considering meeting certain U.S. demands, including lifting bans on American alcohol sales, in exchange for tariff relief. Additionally, Canada is contemplating removing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. automobiles and making adjustments in the dairy sector. In return, Canada is seeking the elimination of the new 50% tariffs, relief from sectoral tariffs on industries like steel and aluminum, and a joint commitment to resume CUSMA talks in the autumn.