Carney to Brief Premier Ford on Ongoing U.S. Trade Negotiations

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he will meet with Ontario Premier Doug Ford today to provide an update on Canada’s ongoing negotiations with the United States over sector-specific trade agreements.

Carney confirmed that federal officials are engaged in intensive discussions with Washington on key economic sectors, including energy, aluminum and steel. He said the meeting with Ford will focus on the tariffs affecting Ontario’s automotive, forestry and manufacturing industries, which have faced trade pressures in recent months.

Premier Ford recently urged Ottawa to take a tougher stance if the federal government fails to secure a deal to remove U.S. tariffs, suggesting that Canada should consider retaliatory measures. He has also called on the prime minister to brief provincial leaders directly on the status of the talks.

Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister overseeing Canada–U.S. trade, is in Washington this week for meetings with senior American officials. His mission follows Carney’s recent White House visit, after which LeBlanc said the prime minister had directed him to pursue sector-specific agreements with the U.S. “quickly” in areas such as steel, aluminum and energy.