Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to demonstrate more resolve in the ongoing trade discussions with the United States. In a letter addressed to Carney, Poilievre and Canada-U.S. relations critic Shuvaloy Majumdar highlighted instances where Ottawa has acquiesced to various demands from the U.S. over the past year.
The duo pointed out concessions made by Canada, such as the elimination of the digital service tax, the removal of counter-tariffs, and the inclusion of 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 one, emphasizing the negative impact on manufacturing jobs in Canadian cities reliant on cross-border supply chains.
Poilievre criticized Carney for yielding to American demands without reciprocation, resulting in increased tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and lumber. Poilievre stressed the importance of securing a favorable deal for Canadians, advocating for tariff-free softwood lumber, an end to sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminum, a tariff-free auto pact, and exemption from Buy America regulations on infrastructure projects.
As the deadline for new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods approaches, the Conservatives reiterated the call to fortify Canada’s negotiating position by establishing a strategic reserve of critical minerals, contingent on reciprocal tariff-free market access. While Canada and Mexico expressed interest in extending the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the U.S. opted for annual reviews instead.
In response to U.S. concerns regarding Canada’s supply management system for dairy, Carney affirmed the government’s commitment to the system, despite pressure to make concessions in trade talks. Dairy farmers in Canada have urged against compromising the industry further, citing repeated concessions met with additional demands from the U.S.
Industry sources indicated that Canada is considering meeting certain U.S. demands, such as lifting bans on American alcohol sales and potential adjustments in the dairy sector, in exchange for tariff relief. Canada aims to persuade the U.S. to revoke the impending 50 percent tariffs, sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminum, and to resume discussions on CUSMA in the fall.