Latest news with #USMCA
Politico
19 hours ago
- Business
- Politico
Huntsville hunker-down
Presented by Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Canada Playbook | Follow Politico Canada Welcome to Canada Playbook. In today's edition: → The PM and the premiers get to work in cottage country. → After an Ottawa field trip, four U.S. senators hint at progress on stubborn trade irritants. → Why Canada scrapped a decades-old ballistic missile defense policy. DRIVING THE DAY LAST-RESORT TOWN — Canada's premiers fully back Prime Minister MARK CARNEY's push to hammer out an economic and security agreement with President DONALD TRUMP by Aug. 1 — even if they're unclear on the details. When the premiers sit down with the PM this morning — at a resort in the heart of cottage country north of Toronto — they'll enter the room with little idea of what shape the deal might take. In between meetings on Monday, there was speculation about whether the prime minister would actually bring anything substantial to today's gathering. Would he drop news or catch premiers up on other shared priorities, like nation-building projects? The 'emergency meeting' came at the prodding of Ontario Premier DOUG FORD, after Trump said Canada would face 35 percent tariffs starting next month. — Define deal: Ford, who is also the chair of the premiers' group known as the Council of the Federation, would only say Canada is working toward 'a fair trade deal.' Whether that's an MOU — no one could say. What level of tariffs are likely to remain — no one could say. What industries could be spared — no one could say. 'That might be a good question for Wednesday after we've had some time with the prime minister on some of the changes that have been happening,' Saskatchewan Premier SCOTT MOE told reporters Monday. 'And there's a lot of changes that happened pretty rapidly.' Alberta Premier DANIELLE SMITH says she's also looking for details. — Today in Huntsville: Today's closed-door talks set the stage for a pivotal meeting as Carney faces pressure to clarify the scope of negotiations, protect key industries, and offer premiers a clearer picture of what's coming before the Aug. 1 deadline. They'll also discuss a possible First Ministers Meeting alongside Assembly of First Nations Chief CINDY WOODHOUSE NEPINAK. — Filling in the blanks: As the Aug. 1 deadline looms, the premiers want clarity from the PM on the state of negotiations. They already have a wish list. — How low can you go: Premiers Moe and Smith acknowledge some level of tariffs will remain on Canadian goods — as the PM flagged last week — but they want them lowered. 'We won't get to zero on every topic,' Moe told reporters as he arrived in Muskoka. 'The goal is to get as close as possible to zero.' — Don't touch: Quebec Premier FRANÇOIS LEGAULT wants the PM to keep his hands off dairy quotas and maintain Canada's cultural exemptions under USMCA. And whatever new deal is struck has to remain in effect for three to five years, he said.'We need to have an economy where companies know what's happening in six months, 12 months from now,' Legault said. — Amuse-bouche: Arriving by motorcade on a humidity-free, sunny day, the premiers appeared relaxed as they assembled for their 'family photo' in front of a backdrop of OPP officers. British Columbia Premier DAVID EBY, who was in the motorcade, missed the family photo because one of his kids needed a bathroom break. Carney arrived in Huntsville Monday evening, just in time to attend a barbecue dinner with the premiers at Ford's cottage on Fawn Lake, about a 30-minute drive north. Earlier in the day, locals got a kick out of seeing the premiers together, commenting that it was a refreshing change to see them get along under Carney. Others walked to the resort from their nearby condos to take photos of the hubbub. — Buzz about town: The community hasn't seen this much security since then-U.S. President BARACK OBAMA visited during the G8 Summit in 2010. Trade war 10 DAYS LEFT — Four U.S. senators strolled into West Block yesterday 'Abbey Road'-style, where Prime Minister MARK CARNEY met them for about 45 minutes. The peacemakers from Washington landed in town a week and change before a high-stakes Aug. 1 deadline to cut a new cross-border trade and security deal. The senators asked for the meetup, Sen. RON WYDEN (D-Ore.) later confirmed to POLITICO's DANIEL DESROCHERS in Washington. Everybody in the room knew the stakes of prolonged uncertainty as tariffs work their way into the economy — and eventually consumers' wallets. — Senate tally: This was the second congressional delegation to visit Carney in the past three months. He's now welcomed nearly 10 percent of the U.S. Senate this year — five senators in May, four more on Monday. — In the room: Sens. Wyden, LISA MURKOWSKI (R-Alaska), MAGGIE HASSAN (D-N.H.) and CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO (D-Nev.). On the Canadian side: Carney chief of staff MARC-ANDRÉ BLANCHARD, deputy chief of staff BRAEDEN CALEY, policy director TIM KRUPA and top Washington envoy KIRSTEN HILLMAN. — On the agenda: USMCA, softwood lumber, digital services taxes and metals tariffs — and, of course, that looming trade deadline. — Also on the docket: The Americans met Foreign Minister ANITA ANAND, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister DOMINIC LEBLANC, Industry Minister MÉLANIE JOLY and Finance Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE. — Unofficial titles: 'We are bridge builders, not people who throw wrenches,' Wyden told reporters in a West Block scrum. → On USMCA: 'This is something that we've had a considerable amount of success with since it was written during the Trump administration, and we ought to strengthen it,' Wyden said. 'We ought to build it, not get rid of it.' → On DST: 'I asked that Canada move as quickly as possible to get a law passed in Parliament making sure that it's gone permanently,' Wyden said. 'The prime minister was receptive to that. He said he would get on it in the fall.' → On softwood: 'We now have a clear idea of how to proceed, and that's to build around some sort of quota arrangement, and the prime minister said he was open to that,' Wyden said. (Last week, Carney entertained the idea of export quotas that limit Canadian lumber entering the U.S. market.) → On tourism: 'We know that the instability in our relationship right now has meant that some Canadians have decided to stay away from their favorite American tourist spots, and we hope you will come back,' Hassan said. 'And it's not just that we miss your business, which, of course, every good businessperson does, but we miss your friendship.' → On the '51st' state: 'It has been made very, very clear that most view that as nothing more than a positioning statement, if you will, something to maybe agitate,' Murkowski said of DONALD TRUMP's assertions that Canadians would be better off as Americans. — Deadlines real and imagined: On Monday, Treasury Secretary SCOTT BESSENT downplayed the Trump administration's hopes for newly inked trade deals by Aug. 1. 'We are more concerned with high quality deals than getting these deals done by August 1st,' Bessent told CNBC. 'Our trading partners were told that the rates could boomerang back toward the April 2nd levels. We can continue talking then. But again, we're proceeding apace with the negotiations, but we're not going to rush for the sake of doing deals.' For your radar SKY'S THE LIMIT — As Playbook noted last week, Defense Minister DAVID MCGUINTY quietly reversed what he is calling an 'outdated' policy on ballistic missile defense that dates to the PAUL MARTIN era. Last week, McGuinty announced via press release that Ottawa had 'removed all restrictions on air and missile defence of Canada.' — Care to elaborate? Playbook asked the minister's office to explain the rationale for the change, which had gained momentum in recent years. (In May, Prime Minister MARK CARNEY also nodded to potentially joining Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile shield project, though the government hasn't yet committed definitively.) Here's what McGuinty's office said in a statement about participating fully in ballistic missile defense: 'The threat environment has drastically changed and Canada needs to be prepared. As the prime minister mentioned, Canada has already taken clear steps to increase our capabilities by investing in the Over the Horizon radar system. By removing outdated restrictions on our air and missile defence policies, Canada is taking another necessary step to strengthen the safety and security of Canadians, and the sovereignty of Canada.' — In case you missed it: Gen. MICHAEL GUETLEIN, No. 2 officer with the United States Space Force, has been confirmed to lead the 'Golden Dome' project. THE ROOMS THAT MATTER — Prime Minister MARK CARNEY meets Canada's premiers in Huntsville, Ontario. — Environment Minister JULIE DABRUSIN headlines a party fundraiser at Parker Rooftop in Vancouver. — Members of the Canada-U.S. Interparliamentary Group — including Sen. MARTY DEACON — are attending the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Annual Summit. Want more POLITICO? Download our mobile app to save stories, get notifications on U.S.-Canada relations, and more. In iOS or Android . MORNING MUST-CLICKS — The Globe reports: Canada, 24 other nations urge Israel to end war in Gaza, condemn 'drip feeding of aid.' — The B.C. premier's office shared a recording with The Canadian Press featuring U.S. Ambassador PETE HOEKSTRA at the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Foundation summit. The resulting headline: 'Trump thinks Canadians are 'nasty' to deal with for avoiding U.S. travel, banning booze, ambassador says.' — From AARON WHERRY of CBC News: Are first ministers' meetings cool again? — Conservative MP SCOTT AITCHISON's conversation with DAVID HERLE is a thoughtful listen on Canada's housing crisis. — From ARNO KOPECKY in the National Observer: 'Carney strides into Northern Gateway minefield.' — REBECCA DZOMBAK of the NYT reports that climate change is making fire weather worse for the world's forests. — From our colleagues in D.C.: Frustration and fear ripple through NPR and PBS affiliates after Congress approves clawbacks. PROZONE Our latest policy newsletter for Pro subscribers: Trump tests Canada's steel industry. The latest headlines for our paid subscribers: — US senators visit Canada to build bridges as trade deadline looms. — For sale or lease: NASA satellites, slightly used. — UN court to rule on countries' duty to curb climate change. — Miners enlist Trump-connected K Street muscle. — France wants EU to punch back harder at Trump in tariff fight. LOBBY WATCH — Crestview's ASHTON ARSENAULT yesterday posted a meeting with Conservative MP and civil liberties caucus lead MARILYN GLADU on behalf of Rumble Canada. Top priority: 'Broadcasting policy, including the governing of online content.' — H+K's ELIZABETH SEIP registered for Indeed Canada, which wants conversations with federal officials about how the company 'can work with departments to better attract and retain the workforce and skills needed to support public service delivery and the overall hiring process.' PLAYBOOKERS Birthdays: HBD to former Green MP (and new dad) MIKE MORRICE and SHAE MCGLYNN, head of eBay government relations in Canada. Noted: GERRY BYRNE, a former MP who pursued provincial politics in 2015, has announced that he will not seek reelection in the 2025 Newfoundland and Labrador general election. After a three-decade career and 10 consecutive elections — seven federal and three provincial — he plans to retire. Movers and shakers: VIDA EBADI, formerly a regional adviser at the Prime Minister's Office, is now director of policy and government relations at Clear Strategy … ELLEN KUSCHNIK joined the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association as public affairs and policy manager. Kuschnik has worked for federal ministers and MPs since 2015. PIERCE COLLIER is now director of parliamentary affairs and issues management, and senior adviser, to Housing Minister GREGOR ROBERTSON. ELAN HARPER is moving on from the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, where she led policy on files including finance, tax, energy, environment, competition and innovation. Harper started a new job as director of Canadian business tax at Andersen in Canada … Former MP KEVIN VUONG is now a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. Vuong lists expertise in health policy, NATO and Indigenous rights. MARISSA NICOLE FORTUNE recently left the Privy Council Office's foreign and defense policy secretariat for a new role at Global Affairs Canada's United Nations division as a senior policy adviser … JOHN MACGREGOR is on his way out as head of mission at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Centre in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Media mentions: The Line announced Calgary-based broadcaster and columnist ROB BREAKENRIDGE as host of 'The Line: Alberta' podcast. Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way. TRIVIA Monday's answer: The head of Statistics Canada, MUNIR SHEIKH, resigned July 21, 2010, over the federal government's decision to scrap the mandatory long-form census. Props to JOHN PEPPER, MALCOLM MCKAY, PATRICIA-ANNE CÔTÉ, ELIZABETH BURN, PATRICK JUNEAU, BOB GORDON, PATRICK DION, ROBERT MCDOUGALL and JOHN ECKER. Today's question: 'The government of our country has lost its wisest counselor and the people of Canada their greatest public servant.' Who died on this date in history? Answers to canadaplaybook@ Canada Playbook would not happen without: Canada Editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and POLITICO's Grace Maalouf.
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
U.S. senators meet with Carney, push to ‘reinvigorate' CUSMA ahead of Trump deadline
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney heard from a bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators on Monday that he should seek to 'reinvigorate' discussions about the Canada-U.S.-Mexico (CUSMA) trade agreement as he faces pressure to close a deal with the White House by Aug. 1. Article content U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a blanket tariff of 35 per cent starting next month on Canadian goods entering his country, barring him and Carney coming up with a new economic and security agreement before that date. Article content Article content Article content Carney met on Parliament Hill first thing in the morning with Democratic senators Rob Wyden from Oregon, Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire and Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada, as well as Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, to discuss Canada's ongoing trade war with the U.S. Article content Article content Murkowski is one of the only Republican senators who has been openly critical of the Trump administration. Article content Speaking after the meeting, Wyden said the first step to bring stability to the Canada-U.S. economic relationship is to try to 'reinvigorate' CUSMA — known as USMCA on the U.S. side — and said the other visiting senators share his view. Article content 'This is something that we've had a considerable amount of success with since it was written during the (first) Trump administration, and we ought to strengthen it. We ought to build it, not get rid of it,' Wyden said. Article content Article content CUSMA is scheduled for review in 2026. Over the weekend, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he expects Trump will want to renegotiate the existing agreement next year. Article content Article content 'It makes perfect sense for the president to renegotiate it,' Lutnick told CBS News in an interview that aired on Sunday. 'He wants to protect American jobs. He doesn't want cars built in Canada or Mexico when they could be built in Michigan and Ohio.' Article content Wyden did not specify what he meant exactly by reinvigorating the existing trade deal, or if it meant in his view an early review or renegotiation ahead of next year's deadline. Article content 'At the end of the day, you are our best friends, and the relationship is going through some great strain,' said Hassan, whose state, New Hampshire, has long been a tourist destination for Canadians. Article content 'But we do think that the framework of the USMCA gives us an opportunity to, kind of in one framework, come together and improve on something that was a great bipartisan success back in 2018,' she added.
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
U.S. senators meet with Carney, push to ‘reinvigorate' CUSMA ahead of Trump deadline
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney heard from a bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators on Monday that he should seek to 'reinvigorate' discussions about the Canada-U.S.-Mexico (CUSMA) trade agreement as he faces pressure to close a deal with the White House by Aug. 1. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a blanket tariff of 35 per cent starting next month on Canadian goods entering his country, barring him and Carney coming up with a new economic and security agreement before that date. Carney met on Parliament Hill first thing in the morning with Democratic senators Rob Wyden from Oregon, Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire and Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada, as well as Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, to discuss Canada's ongoing trade war with the U.S. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Murkowski is one of the only Republican senators who has been openly critical of the Trump administration. Speaking after the meeting, Wyden said the first step to bring stability to the Canada-U.S. economic relationship is to try to 'reinvigorate' CUSMA — known as USMCA on the U.S. side — and said the other visiting senators share his view. 'This is something that we've had a considerable amount of success with since it was written during the (first) Trump administration, and we ought to strengthen it. We ought to build it, not get rid of it,' Wyden said. CUSMA is scheduled for review in 2026. Over the weekend, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he expects Trump will want to renegotiate the existing agreement next year. 'It makes perfect sense for the president to renegotiate it,' Lutnick told CBS News in an interview that aired on Sunday . 'He wants to protect American jobs. He doesn't want cars built in Canada or Mexico when they could be built in Michigan and Ohio.' Wyden did not specify what he meant exactly by reinvigorating the existing trade deal, or if it meant in his view an early review or renegotiation ahead of next year's deadline. 'At the end of the day, you are our best friends, and the relationship is going through some great strain,' said Hassan, whose state, New Hampshire, has long been a tourist destination for Canadians. 'But we do think that the framework of the USMCA gives us an opportunity to, kind of in one framework, come together and improve on something that was a great bipartisan success back in 2018,' she added. Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand also took part in the meeting with the U.S. senators and detailed her vision of the upcoming CUSMA talks. Murkowski said the terminology Anand used in talking about CUSMA was 'very instructive.' According to her, the minister said she wishes to operate within the current framework and that their countries already 'have the frame… to make it work.' Carney has already lowered expectations about Canada being able to strike a tariff-free deal with the U.S. but reiterated most of Canada's exports would be spared. While he said the most affected sectors — steel, aluminum, autos and forestry — are now subject to high tariff rates when entering the U.S., he said the 'vast majority' of Canadian goods and services will continue to remain tariff-free as they are exempted under CUSMA. Lutnick echoed that message on Sunday, telling CBS News that 75 per cent of Canadian imports are exempt from tariffs under the existing agreement and that any additional tariffs would only apply to the remaining 25 per cent of Canadian goods. Despite that rhetoric, U.S. senators said they have been hearing from their constituents and businesses that many projects are on hold pending a deal between both countries. On top of using CUSMA talks as a negotiation item to restore trade relations more broadly, Wyden said Carney was 'receptive' to his suggestions of passing a law to permanently rescind the digital services tax, which Carney stopped from taking effect this month, and of potentially subjecting Canadian softwood lumber exports to the U.S. to a quota . Hassan said they also spoke with Carney about stopping the flow of precursor chemicals that are used to make fentanyl to both countries. They also discussed lessons learned in the U.S. to stop the demand for the deadly drug and helping drug users end their addictions. After his meeting with the U.S. senators, Carney met in Ottawa with King Abdullah II of Jordan to discuss defence and security issues in the Middle East, as well as trade opportunities between their two countries. On Tuesday, Carney will be joining Canada's premiers in Ontario's cottage country for a meeting of the Council of the Federation. National Post calevesque@ Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
Ottawa Citizen
a day ago
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
U.S. senators meet with Carney, push to ‘reinvigorate' CUSMA ahead of Trump deadline
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney heard from a bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators on Monday that he should seek to 'reinvigorate' discussions about the Canada-U.S.-Mexico (CUSMA) trade agreement as he faces pressure to close a deal with the White House by Aug. 1. Article content U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a blanket tariff of 35 per cent starting next month on Canadian goods entering his country, barring him and Carney coming up with a new economic and security agreement before that date. Article content Article content Article content Carney met on Parliament Hill first thing in the morning with Democratic senators Rob Wyden from Oregon, Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire and Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada, as well as Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, to discuss Canada's ongoing trade war with the U.S. Article content Article content Murkowski is one of the only Republican senators who has been openly critical of the Trump administration. Article content Speaking after the meeting, Wyden said the first step to bring stability to the Canada-U.S. economic relationship is to try to 'reinvigorate' CUSMA — known as USMCA on the U.S. side — and said the other visiting senators share his view. Article content 'This is something that we've had a considerable amount of success with since it was written during the (first) Trump administration, and we ought to strengthen it. We ought to build it, not get rid of it,' Wyden said. Article content Article content CUSMA is scheduled for review in 2026. Over the weekend, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he expects Trump will want to renegotiate the existing agreement next year. Article content Article content 'It makes perfect sense for the president to renegotiate it,' Lutnick told CBS News in an interview that aired on Sunday. 'He wants to protect American jobs. He doesn't want cars built in Canada or Mexico when they could be built in Michigan and Ohio.' Article content Wyden did not specify what he meant exactly by reinvigorating the existing trade deal, or if it meant in his view an early review or renegotiation ahead of next year's deadline. Article content 'At the end of the day, you are our best friends, and the relationship is going through some great strain,' said Hassan, whose state, New Hampshire, has long been a tourist destination for Canadians. Article content 'But we do think that the framework of the USMCA gives us an opportunity to, kind of in one framework, come together and improve on something that was a great bipartisan success back in 2018,' she added.
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
U.S. senators meet with Carney, push to ‘reinvigorate' CUSMA ahead of Trump deadline
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney heard from a bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators on Monday that he should seek to 'reinvigorate' discussions about the Canada-U.S.-Mexico (CUSMA) trade agreement as he faces pressure to close a deal with the White House by Aug. 1. Article content U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a blanket tariff of 35 per cent starting next month on Canadian goods entering his country, barring him and Carney coming up with a new economic and security agreement before that date. Article content Article content Article content Carney met on Parliament Hill first thing in the morning with Democratic senators Rob Wyden from Oregon, Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire and Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada, as well as Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, to discuss Canada's ongoing trade war with the U.S. Article content Article content Speaking after the meeting, Wyden said the first step to bring stability to the Canada-U.S. economic relationship is to try to 'reinvigorate' CUSMA — known as USMCA on the U.S. side — and said the other visiting senators share his view. Article content 'This is something that we've had a considerable amount of success with since it was written during the (first) Trump administration, and we ought to strengthen it. We ought to build it, not get rid of it,' Wyden said. Article content Article content CUSMA is scheduled for review in 2026. Over the weekend, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he expects Trump will want to renegotiate the existing agreement next year. Article content Article content 'It makes perfect sense for the president to renegotiate it,' Lutnick told CBS News in an interview that aired on Sunday. 'He wants to protect American jobs. He doesn't want cars built in Canada or Mexico when they could be built in Michigan and Ohio.' Article content Wyden did not specify what he meant exactly by reinvigorating the existing trade deal, or if it meant in his view an early review or renegotiation ahead of next year's deadline. Article content 'At the end of the day, you are our best friends, and the relationship is going through some great strain,' said Hassan, whose state, New Hampshire, has long been a tourist destination for Canadians. Article content 'But we do think that the framework of the USMCA gives us an opportunity to, kind of in one framework, come together and improve on something that was a great bipartisan success back in 2018,' she added.
