TORONTO – The ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the United States is expected to be the central focus of today’s meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and the provincial premiers. Canadian premiers are keenly awaiting Carney’s response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s ultimatum, demanding a trade deal by August 1st.
On July 10th, Trump sent a letter to Carney, threatening to impose a 35% tariff on Canadian products if a deal isn’t reached by the deadline. Last week, Carney hinted that certain tariffs might be included in a trade agreement and that discussions would intensify.
Beyond the trade tensions, premiers are also hoping to gain more insight into Carney’s proposed national development plans. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, in particular, is looking for updates on accelerating projects like the pipeline in Alberta. Carney met with First Nations leaders last week to discuss speeding up the development of such initiatives, and premiers are eager for details from those discussions.
