Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to display more resolve in ongoing trade discussions with the United States. In a correspondence shared with the media, Poilievre and Canada-U.S. relations critic Shuvaloy Majumdar criticized Ottawa for acceding to several of Trump’s requests over the past year.
They highlighted actions such as abandoning the digital service tax, eliminating Canada’s counter-tariffs, and involving the United States in an agreement to share toll revenue from the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Poilievre and Majumdar disputed Carney’s stance that no deal is preferable to a bad deal, pointing out job losses in Canadian cities reliant on cross-border supply chains.
Poilievre accused Carney of consistently conceding to American demands without reciprocal benefits, resulting in increased tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and lumber. Poilievre stressed the importance of securing a favorable deal for Canadians, including zero tariffs on softwood lumber, the removal of sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminum, a tariff-free auto agreement, and exemptions from Buy America regulations for infrastructure projects.
As a new round of 50% U.S. tariffs on various Canadian goods approaches, negotiations between the two countries have intensified. The Conservatives reiterated their call to bolster Canada’s negotiation position by establishing a strategic reserve of critical minerals, accessible to nations offering tariff-free market access.
While Canada and Mexico expressed interest in extending the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) for 16 years, the United States decided on rolling annual reviews instead. Dairy farmers in Canada have urged the government to resist concessions related to the supply management system safeguarding the dairy sector, as Trump has criticized U.S. dairy farmers’ access to the Canadian market.
Carney affirmed the government’s commitment to the supply management system, while Dairy Farmers of Canada cautioned against further industry concessions. Industry sources disclosed that Canada is contemplating meeting certain U.S. demands, such as lifting bans on American alcohol sales, in exchange for tariff relief. Additionally, discussions include potentially removing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. autos and making adjustments in the dairy sector, with Canada seeking the removal of new tariffs and relief from sectoral tariffs on industries like steel and aluminum.