Canadian trade negotiators meeting with U.S. counterparts again Tuesday

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc will be in Washington, D.C. Tuesday for another meeting with his American counterpart, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

The meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET, and the two will be joined by Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette.

It’s the second meeting between the two sides in less than a week.

LeBlanc and Charette met with Greer last Thursday in the U.S. capital, following which multiple industry sources told CTV news they were cautiously optimistic that progress was being made towards a deal.

Proposals being discussed by the two sides include removing the Canadian counter-tariffs on autos, and provincial bans on alcohol. Proposals are also being exchanged about changing how dairy quotas are managed.

Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to impose a new 50 per cent tariff on several Canadian goods – including wine, hockey sticks and cement – for what his administration is characterizing as discriminatory trade policies.

Trump has taken issue with provincial bans on U.S. alcohol, supply management on dairy, and certain tariffs and quotas on cars imported to Canada from the U.S.

If the two sides can’t come to an agreement on the new U.S. tariffs, the levies will take effect on an estimated $28 billion worth of Canadian imports.

When asked on his way into meetings on Thursday whether he believes Canada and the U.S. can reach a deal before then, LeBlanc said in French: “I hope so.”

With files from CTV News’ Spencer Van Dyk and Judy Trinh