
The UAW has thrown support behind Trump's tariffs. Here's a look at why

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Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
LeBlanc says tariff talks with U.S. ‘constructive' but deal out of reach
Canada's minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade says conversations with American officials over steep tariffs remain 'constructive,' but a resolution is still out of reach. Appearing on Face the Nation Sunday, Dominic LeBlanc said Ottawa is hoping for progress in discussions on the 50 per cent tariff the U.S. has placed on Canadian aluminum; a move he said is backfiring on both economies. 'We hope so,' LeBlanc said when asked if the U.S. is open to negotiating. 'But we're not yet where we need to be to get a deal that's in the best interests of the two economies.' LeBlanc said the tariffs are driving up costs in deeply integrated sectors like auto manufacturing. 'Canadian aluminum companies massively supply the American market… You've increased the price of a whole series of goods,' he said. 'We're the biggest customer of U.S.-made automobiles… 50 per cent of the cars that we finish in Canada and sell to the United States are made up of American parts.' Story continues below advertisement While recognizing President Trump's national security rationale, LeBlanc emphasized that Canada shares the same goal. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy When asked whether Prime Minister Mark Carney plans to speak directly with President Trump, LeBlanc said a conversation will likely take place 'over the next number of days.' U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on the same program that the new tariffs will remain in place unless a deal is reached. 'Our view is the president is trying to fix the terms of trade with Canada,' he said, 'and if there's a way to a deal, we'll find it, and if it's not, we'll have the tariff levels that we have.' LeBlanc noted how Canada has passed its own One Canadian Economy Act, which he said could unlock up to $500 billion in investment for projects like pipelines, ports and mines, areas that 'offer huge opportunities to American businesses as well.' LeBlanc also addressed the U.S. decision to impose a 35 per cent tariff while talks were ongoing. 'We were obviously disappointed by that decision,' he said. 'We believe there's a great deal of common ground between the United States and Canada in terms of building two strong economies that work well together.' While the U.S. continues to respect the terms of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), LeBlanc said the integrated nature of the relationship means both sides benefit from cooperation. Story continues below advertisement 'We don't sell things to each other as much as we make things together,' he said. When asked about past Canadian retaliation and whether pulling back might help move things forward, LeBlanc added that Carney's relationship with Trump is 'obviously very important to Canada and … to the United States.' LeBlanc said Canada's steel sector is crucial to its national security and its economy, just as it is in the U.S, and hopes to sustain those industries. 'We're looking at advancing ideas where we can do work with the United States at the same time, ensure that our economy continues to have sectors vital to the economic future of Canada,' he said.


Calgary Herald
3 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Canadian trade envoy still sees chance to ease Trump's tariffs
Article content (Bloomberg) — Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump are expected to talk 'over the next number of days,' a Canadian official said, after the two governments failed to reach a deal before an Aug. 1 tariff deadline. Article content 'We think there is an option of striking a deal that will bring down some of these tariffs and provide greater certainty to investment,' Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's minister in charge of US trade, said on CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday. LeBlanc also said he plans to speak with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Article content Article content Article content The Trump administration on Friday raised the tariff rate on some Canadian imports to 35% from 25% imposed in early March, while maintaining an exemption for goods traded under the rules of the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Article content Article content The effective US tariff rate on Canadian products is estimated to rise slightly to between 6% and 7%, from about 5%. Article content Carney and his government have described the talks with the US as difficult. Article content LeBlanc on Sunday said talks have been 'informative, constructive and cordial,' and reiterated mutual benefits for both economies from reaching a deal. Article content 'What we've said to our American counterparts is how can we structure the right agreement where we can both continue to supply one another in a reliable, cost-effective way that preserves jobs essential to the American economy and in Canada as well,' he said. Article content The minister touted his government's One Canadian Economy Act as a Canadian version of Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, the tax-cut and spending plan the president signed in July. Article content


Calgary Herald
3 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
U.S. trade advisor says Trump tariff rates unlikely to change
New U.S. tariff rates are 'pretty much set' with little immediate room for negotiation, Donald Trump's trade advisor said in remarks aired Sunday, also defending the president's politically driven levies against Brazil. Article content Trump, who has wielded tariffs as a tool of American economic might, has set tariff rates for dozens of economies including the European Union at between 10 and 41 percent come August 7, his new hard deadline for the duties. Article content Article content Article content In a pre-taped interview broadcast Sunday on CBS's 'Face the Nation,' US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said 'the coming days' are not likely to see changes in the tariff rates. Article content Article content 'A lot of these are set rates pursuant to deals. Some of these deals are announced, some are not, others depend on the level of the trade deficit or surplus we may have with the country,' Greer said. Article content 'These tariff rates are pretty much set.' Article content Undoubtedly some trade ministers 'want to talk more and see how they can work in a different way with the United States,' he added. Article content But 'we're seeing truly the contours of the president's tariff plan right now with these rates.' Article content Last Thursday, the former real estate developer announced hiked tariff rates on dozens of US trade partners. Article content They will kick in on August 7 instead of August 1, which had previously been touted as a hard deadline. Article content Article content Among the countries facing steep new levies is Brazil. South America's largest economy is being hit with 50 percent tariffs on exports to the United States — albeit with significant exemptions for key products such as aircraft and orange juice. Article content Trump has openly admitted he is punishing Brazil for prosecuting his political ally Jair Bolsonaro, the ex-president accused of plotting a coup in a bid to cling to power. The US president has described the case as a 'witch hunt.' Article content Greer said it was not unusual for Trump to use tariff tools for geopolitical purposes. Article content 'The president has seen in Brazil, like he's seen in other countries, a misuse of law, a misuse of democracy,' Greer told CBS. 'It is normal to use these tools for geopolitical issues.'