The US Commerce Secretary dismissed that free trade with Canada is dead
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik is rejecting the question of whether American-free trade with Canada is dead, calling perception “foolish” and saying that Canadian goods enter the US tariff-free under the current North American Free Trade deal.
“We have a plan (the United States-Maxico-Canada Agreement), which is already tariff-free, about 75 percent of all the items coming from Mexico and Canada,” Lutnik said in an interview in an interview. Facing nation He aired on CBS on Sunday morning.
But in the same breath, Lutnik suggested that tariffs in Canada were for now to live.
He said, “The President understands that we need to open the market. Canada is not open to us. They need to open their market. Unless they are ready to open their market, they are going to pay a tariff,” he said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney comes after comments from Commerce Secretary Told reporters in French “There are not many evidences” that America is ready to cut a deal with Canada without some tariffs.
Speaking in French before a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said, ‘We need to stabilize the situation for Canada’ when asked about the ability of a tariff-free deal with the US.
But the Prime Minister also said on Tuesday that the reference to the tariff exemption given to the Canadian goods to suit the goods of Canada is the reference to the Tariff Refrains known as the Canada-USMXICO Agreement (CUSMA) among the people of Canada.
According to an RBC report Released last monthIn January 2025, about 79 percent of US imports from Canada were “clearly duty -free”.
This figure increased to about 89 percent in April.
Lutnik told hosts Margaret Brainon, “Why should we open our country, while they are closed? It is an 80 -year -old wrong that President Trump is trying to fix, and our business really enjoy it.”
Kusma talks
Lutnik also told Brainon that Trump “is going to a complete Renaissance (CUSMA), but it is a year from today.”
He said, “It makes sense for the President to resume it. He wants to protect American jobs. He does not want cars made in Canada or Mexico when they can be made in Michigan or Ohio. It is better for American workers.”
CUSMA is not officially for Renaissance until 2026, but some Canadian business leaders and others Called from the federal government To start negotiations for economic stability.
Questions also arise on whether the conversation will get another tripartite trade treaty.
Last November, Ontario Premier Dug Ford Pitching Mexico And signed a bilateral deal with the United States – a trick Alberta Premier Daniel Smith It was worth searching,
That suggestion sent a chill through the Canada-Mexico relationship, but Carney and Mexican President Claudia Shinbam shut down.
The two leaders met each other during the G7 Summit in Kannskis, Alta in June in June, and “were ready to meet again in Mexico in the coming months,” according to A. News release Published on the Prime Minister’s website.
Canada-American trade talks continue
Carney and his conversation team continue to work with Trump in the hope of avoiding the latest threat of the US President – A 35 percent tariff on all Canadian goods,
The US President threatened in a letter posted on social media, which was addressed to the Prime Minister. He said that the tariffs would apply on August 1 and if the Canadian vengeance is taken, the United States will increase the levy.
Lutnik said that the White House would cut better deals with big countries that open their economies “for rankers, fishermen, farmers and businesses,” but if they keep tariff barriers then “it seems appropriate” to implement the levy.
US President Donald Trump threatened to slap 35 percent tariffs on all Canadian goods late Thursday night. Trump’s latest threat came in a letter to Prime Minister Mark Karney that the President had posted on his social media site, Truth social.
In his letter, Trump cited Phantenile “Dala” from Canada as due to his latest tariff threat, even though data continues to show data Minimum amount of medicine Canada-US borders are crossing the US-Mexico border.
Trump also took a shot in Canada’s supply management system, a long -standing hurdle that he claims that Canada has raised tariffs on American dairy products to 400 percent.
High Canadian tariffs are applied only when the tariff-by-rate agreed on US dairy imports under USMCA is crossed or crosses.
Aida -based International Dairy Association It is said that Americans have never found more close to quotaBut it also claims that it is due to “protectionist measures” from Canada that limit exports.
Liberal government has maintained it Will not disintegrate supply Management.
