Canada Drops Some US Tariffs LeBlanc Plans Washington Talks

Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is scheduled to meet U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington following Canada's decision to lift some retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods covered under the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA), while maintaining tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles. This move, announced by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney after a call with U.S. President Donald Trump, aims to ease trade tensions exacerbated by U.S. tariff hikes and Canada’s prior counter-tariffs. LeBlanc seeks a trade deal favorable to Canada that could soften the impact of U.S. sectoral tariffs, with ongoing discussions focusing on improving bilateral trade relations ahead of the USMCA review. The White House welcomed Canada’s tariff rollback as “long overdue,” and Trump described it as “nice.” Meanwhile, Canada’s partial rollback is seen as a potential opening for broader negotiations, although the U.S. has yet to indicate readiness to reduce its tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and autos. Additionally, separate high-stakes trade talks are underway between the U.S. and China, with senior Chinese negotiator Li Chenggang visiting Washington to engage with U.S. officials.