U.S.-Canada trade talks remain unresolved after G20 meeting in Milwaukee

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said outstanding trade issues with Canada remain difficult to resolve, signalling that Ottawa and Washington are not close to an immediate agreement.

Speaking to reporters Thursday at the conclusion of the G20 trade ministers’ meeting in Milwaukee, Greer said technical discussions with Canada are continuing but several issues remain unresolved.

Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu also held an informal meeting with Greer on the sidelines of the G20 gathering. Sidhu said he raised Canada-U.S. trade tensions and other issues, including reform of the World Trade Organization. Greer said his main contact for the bilateral trade negotiations remains Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc.

Greer was also asked about the possibility of a 50 per cent U.S. tariff on Canadian automotive products beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Rather than directly confirming the proposed measure, he pointed to the Trump administration’s broader trade policy of encouraging manufacturing to return to the United States. Greer said the administration is open to a deal with Canada but is not inclined to eliminate tariffs entirely.

The trade dispute is significant for Canada’s auto industry and other sectors that depend heavily on cross-border commerce. Ottawa has also been pursuing additional trade relationships with countries and regions including the European Union, India and the Mercosur bloc as it seeks to diversify Canadian trade.