Canada and the United States are \u201cvery close\u201d to finalizing a trade deal, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said after a meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Thursday.<\/p>\n
After weeks of intense trade talks with the United States, which came with the threat of sweeping 50 per cent tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump\u00a0hanging over the Canadian economy, the two sides appear to be closing in on a trade deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very close, we continue to make progress,\u201d LeBlanc told reporters in Washington, D.C., adding that he had \u201clong, detailed\u201d talks with Greer and other American officials.<\/p>\n
LeBlanc was accompanied by Canada\u2019s chief trade negotiator Janice Charette, who remains in Washington to finalize the finer points of the deal.<\/p>\n
A source with direct knowledge of the talks said the U.S. could cut steel and aluminum tariffs from 50 per cent to 25 per cent and auto tariffs from 25 per cent to 15 per cent.<\/p>\n
Two sources also told Global News that tariff relief for Canada\u2019s softwood lumber industry is also being discussed.<\/p>\n
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is also in Washington for meetings with her counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, her office said on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
The focus of those talks will be \u201ccontinental security and other global priorities.\u201d<\/p>\n
I am in Washington today to meet with my U.S. counterpart, Secretary of State @MarcoRubio, to discuss continental security and other global priorities.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Anita Anand (@AnitaAnandMP) August 20, 2026<\/p>\n
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said he was \u201cskeptical\u201d of a good faith trade deal with Trump.<\/p>\n
\u201c(We could have) the best deal in the world today. (If) things go off the rail in Iran for him next month, who is to say he\u2019s not going to try and whack us on the head again?\u201d Kinew said in a radio interview with 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.<\/p>\n
680 CJOB is owned by Corus Entertainment, which is the parent company of Global News.<\/p>\n
Kinew said he was not announcing a return of U.S. alcohol to Manitoba\u2019s shelves on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe prime minister very clearly asked us to put the booze back. He very clearly wants this. He\u2019s like, you know, just blame me, put this on me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n