U.S. President Donald Trump says he expects the United States and Canada to reach a new trade agreement within the next few weeks, even as Washington prepares to impose new restrictions on certain Canadian imports.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said he believes Canadian officials could return to negotiations within the next three or four weeks. He said any eventual agreement would need to be “fair” to the United States.
The comments came just hours before new U.S. import bans targeting certain Canadian products were scheduled to take effect. The restrictions include some alcoholic beverages, dairy byproducts and motorcycles, among other goods.
The measures represent another escalation in the Canada-U.S. trade war, which intensified after trade negotiations between the two countries broke down in August.
Since then, Washington has imposed additional tariffs on a range of Canadian goods, while Ottawa has responded with retaliatory measures aimed at U.S. products.
Canada’s Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc has said the federal government’s priority is protecting Canadian workers, farmers, families and businesses from what Ottawa considers unjustified U.S. trade measures.
The latest dispute is also raising concerns about the future of the highly integrated North American economy. Canada and the United States are major trading partners, with industries including automotive manufacturing, steel, aluminum, agriculture and energy relying heavily on cross-border supply chains.
While Trump is expressing optimism about a possible agreement, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said last week that the Trump administration was comfortable with the current position and saw no urgency to reach a deal.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has maintained that Canada remains willing to negotiate a trade agreement that provides stability and benefits businesses and workers in both countries. He has also stressed that any deal must respect Canadian interests and sovereignty.
The conflicting signals from Washington and Ottawa leave the timing and potential terms of a new agreement uncertain. For Canadian businesses, the continuing tariff dispute has created additional pressure to adjust supply chains and explore markets beyond the United States.
With the new import restrictions taking effect, attention will now turn to whether the two governments can return to meaningful negotiations in the coming weeks or whether the trade standoff will continue.
Swifteradio.com
