Canada

The U.S. has agreed to enter into consultations at the World Trade Organization with China and Canada in separate disputes launched by the two countries over Trump administration tariffs while also insisting that the measures are covered by the WTO’s national security exception. In two new WTO communications dated March 14 but made public on Tuesday, the U.S. accepted the requests for consultations – the first step in a WTO dispute – from both Beijing and Ottawa. The language for...

A “very productive” meeting on Thursday between U.S. and Canadian officials successfully lowered the temperature between the two North American neighbors, Canadian officials said following the lengthy gathering, adding that the two sides will meet again next week. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman. The two countries have been at odds over escalating...

President Trump’s nominees for key ambassador posts on Thursday faced questions from Democratic senators concerned about the economic and diplomatic ramifications of the administration’s aggressive use of tariffs on close trading partners, particularly Canada. During a confirmation hearing held by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Trump’s nominee to represent the U.S. in Canada, former Republican Rep. Pete Hoekstra (MI), defended what he characterized as the president’s efforts to pursue “fairer, freer” trade in responses to questions about Trump’s tariffs and...

Canada has challenged the new U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum at the World Trade Organization, arguing the duties violate WTO rules even as the Trump administration defends them as critical for U.S. national security. The Trump administration imposed 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962; the duties went into effect on Wednesday. Canada has denounced the new tariffs and imposed retaliatory measures . Canada also has requested consultations...

A bipartisan group of Midwestern senators on Wednesday called on the Trump administration to use forthcoming trade talks with Canada to address the country’s dairy practices. Trade has been top of mind for U.S. and Canadian officials following the Trump administration’s imposition of 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, as well as other threats made by President Trump. Last week, he issued a one-month reprieve from the duties for goods that qualify for preferential treatment under the...

President Trump vowed on Wednesday to respond to the array of retaliatory measures the European Union imposed in response to 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, saying he expects to win the “financial battle” brewing over his trade policies -- a battle that includes Canada's plan to launch “dollar-for-dollar" retaliation. “Of course I’m going to respond,” Trump told a reporter who asked about the White House’s plans after the EU announced retaliation plans against the steel and aluminum...

After a rapid-fire series of escalation threats and exemption requests, President Trump has allowed stricter 25 percent tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to take effect without changes, prompting a new wave of retaliation from trading partners -- with Canada and the European Union the first to announce their plans. The White House announced no exemptions, stays, or other mitigating moves for national security duties under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 that Trump set in motion...

Editor's note: This story was updated with a statement from a White House spokesman saying the tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, scheduled to take effect on Wednesday, will be set at 25 percent. Ontario Premier Doug Ford will suspend a surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S., he said on Tuesday, citing a conversation with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hours after President Trump promised to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 percent. The White...

A Republican stopgap funding measure that could come up for a vote on Tuesday includes a rule that would block resolutions introduced by House Democrats to end President Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico – a move Democrats claim GOP lawmakers are using to provide political cover from the duties. Rules for the funding measure passed the House Rules Committee late Monday in a party-line vote. They include a provision stating that it “Provides...