Canada-US trade talks resume after Carney rescinds tech tax
U.S. President Donald Trump had previously halted discussions, criticizing Canada's intention to implement the tax as "a direct and blatant attack on our country." In response to the evolving trade situation, the Canadian government stated that it would withdraw the Digital Services Tax "in anticipation" of reaching a trade agreement. This tax was set to take effect on June 30.
Following a phone call between Carney and Trump, Carney's office confirmed that both leaders agreed to resume negotiations. In a statement, Carney emphasized that "today's announcement will support a resumption of negotiations toward the July 21, 2025, timeline set forth during this month's G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis."
Carney had previously visited Trump at the White House in May, maintaining a polite but assertive demeanor. When Trump attended the G7 summit in Alberta, Carney noted that both countries had established a 30-day deadline for trade discussions.
In a social media post, Trump indicated that Canada had reaffirmed its plan to move forward with the digital services tax, which would affect both Canadian and international companies interacting with users in Canada. This tax would impose a three percent charge on revenue from Canadian users on companies such as Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber, and Airbnb. It would apply retroactively, resulting in a potential US$2 billion bill for U.S. firms by the month's end.
Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, described Carney's decision to retract the tax as a "clear victory" for Trump. He suggested that while this move could have been necessary for the trade negotiations, Carney's actions were a direct concession to appease Trump, which ultimately benefited both the White House and major tech companies.
Discussions between Canada and the U.S. have also included the potential easing of substantial tariffs imposed by Trump. He has enacted 50 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum, as well as 25 percent tariffs on automobiles, alongside a 10 percent tax on imports from numerous countries, with the possibility of increasing rates on July 9 after a 90-day negotiating period.
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'Looking ahead, the federal government should also consider expanding this allowance to permit foreign buyers to reside in the homes they purchase.' How will Robertson and Carney react? Even though both have received political donations from developers , it's hard to predict. Opinion polls show a firm majority have turned against current migration volumes. But since Carney hasn't said anything more specific than that he wants 'sustainable levels' of migration, he's left the door open to do almost whatever he sees fit to respond to the housing crisis. dtodd@
