U.S. Senators Meet Canada PM in Ottawa Ahead of Trade Deadline

Prime Minister Mark Carney met with a bipartisan group of U.S. senators in Ottawa to discuss ongoing trade tensions and tariff threats between Canada and the United States. The delegation, including Democrats Ron Wyden, Maggie Hassan, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Republican Lisa Murkowski, emphasized building bridges and cooperation despite challenges posed by President Donald Trump's administration and its tariff policies. Senator Wyden advocated for reinvigorating and strengthening the USMCA trade agreement, which was originally negotiated during the Trump administration, and urged Canada to solidify certain tax laws on U.S. tech giants, with Carney agreeing to pursue legislative action in the fall. Both sides made progress on addressing long-standing issues like Canadian softwood lumber exports to the U.S., discussing possible export quotas as a step toward a larger trade deal. The senators expressed optimism about finding solutions to reduce tariffs, which are seen as costly taxes on goods and services, and stressed the importance of trust and collaboration for the economic benefit of both nations. This meeting follows multiple prior visits by U.S. senators seeking to ease tensions and continue dialogue amid the looming tariff deadlines set by the Trump administration.