Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to display more resolve in the ongoing trade discussions with the United States. Poilievre and his Canada-U.S. relations critic, Shuvaloy Majumdar, voiced concerns in a letter to Carney, noting instances where Ottawa has acquiesced to several demands from the U.S. over the past year.
They highlighted actions such as scrapping the digital service tax, eliminating Canada’s counter-tariffs, and agreeing to share net toll revenue from the Gordie Howe International Bridge with the United States. Poilievre and Majumdar contradicted Carney’s stance that no deal is preferable to a bad deal by pointing out the negative impact on Canadian cities dependent on cross-border supply chains.
Poilievre criticized Carney for continuously conceding to American demands without reciprocation, resulting in escalating tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and lumber. He emphasized the necessity for a fair deal that includes zero tariffs on softwood lumber, the removal of sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminum, a tariff-free auto pact, and exemptions to Buy America rules on government infrastructure projects.
As the deadline for new U.S. tariffs approaches, the Conservatives called for the establishment of a strategic reserve of critical minerals to bolster Canada’s bargaining power. While Canada and Mexico sought an extension of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the U.S. opted for annual reviews instead.
In a separate development, dairy farmers urged the Canadian government to uphold the supply management system despite U.S. pressure for concessions in the dairy sector. Carney reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the system, echoing the sentiments of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, who expressed frustration over continuous demands following previous concessions.
Industry sources revealed that Canada is considering meeting certain U.S. demands to secure tariff relief, potentially involving lifting bans on American alcohol sales and adjusting policies on dairy and auto tariffs. In return, Canada aims to have the U.S. revoke the impending 50% tariffs and provide relief from sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminum, along with resuming talks on the CUSMA in the fall.