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Carney rejects narrow U.S. trade deal as LeBlanc meets Greer in Washington
Developing
What we know
Speaking at an aluminum plant in Saguenay, Que., on Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada is “not interested” in a narrow, sector-by-sector deal that leaves President Trump’s major tariffs untouched. He wants a more comprehensive, “global” pact addressing autos, steel, aluminum and forest products before—or at least with pathways beyond—the Aug. 19 threat of 50% U.S. levies on roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods. “Will we get all that by the 19th of August? We’ll see,” he said.
The same afternoon, Canada–U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and chief negotiator Janice Charette met USTR Jamieson Greer in Washington; a planned 30-minute sit-down ran about 90 minutes. LeBlanc called it a “constructive and detailed” discussion focused on a comprehensive deal that addresses sectoral tariffs. Greer has preferred interim deals on bilateral irritants—dairy access, ending provincial U.S. alcohol bans, lifting Canadian auto counter-tariffs—before larger CUSMA structural talks, a sequence Ottawa sees as giving up leverage without guaranteed Section 232 relief.
What's confirmed
- Carney Thursday in Saguenay: rejects narrow targeted deal; seeks comprehensive coverage of autos/steel/aluminum/forestry (Globe and Mail; CBC).
- LeBlanc–Charette–Greer Washington meeting ~90 minutes; “constructive and detailed”; comprehensive sectoral focus (Globe; Reuters).
- Aug. 19 50% package still the clock; U.S. irritant list includes alcohol bans, dairy, auto retaliation (Globe; CBC).
What's still developing
- Whether Greer puts Section 232 cuts on paper before Aug. 19 or sticks to interim-irritant sequencing.
- Provincial willingness to restock U.S. alcohol if Ottawa locks broader relief.
Sources
- The Globe and Mail — Carney narrow-deal rejection; Saguenay comments; LeBlanc–Charette–Greer 90-minute meeting; Greer interim vs Ottawa 232 ask link
- Reuters — LeBlanc “constructive and detailed” Greer meeting; comprehensive sectoral-tariff focus link
- CBC News — Thursday Greer meeting context; Carney comprehensive/global-deal push; Aug. 19 cliff link