Carney has also been facing pressure from the opposition to land a win, as Trump continues to inflict new tariffs impacting Canadian businesses. Earlier this week, Trump imposed a new 10 per cent levy on softwood lumber<\/a> imports and a 25 per cent tariff on cabinets and furniture that are set to take effect Oct. 14.<\/p>\n The source, speaking on background to CTV News, said the Canadian team is \u201ccautiously optimistic\u201d there will be an agreement coming out of next week\u2019s meeting, specifically on the reduction of steel and aluminum tariffs. <\/p>\n Over the summer, the U.S. hiked its tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50 per cent, with Canada imposing a 25 per cent counter-tariff on U.S. steel and aluminum. <\/p>\n The source says next week\u2019s meeting follows weeks of groundwork by LeBlanc, Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman and Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Sabia, with the team being aware the discussions could go sideways.<\/p>\n \u201cYou never know what Trump is going to do,\u201d the source said to CTV News.<\/p>\n No \u2018dead end\u2019 in Canada-U.S. talks: minister<\/p>\n Speaking to the Senate\u2019s Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committee on Thursday, LeBlanc pointed to Trump and his administration being \u201cmoved by massive private investments.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a very good story to tell there, and I am hopeful that over the coming weeks and months, that can be part of a very valid, a very real, a very significant public narrative in the United States,\u201d LeBlanc said.<\/p>\n In his testimony on Thursday, LeBlanc also said he and other officials are in regular contact with their American counterparts, and that he doesn\u2019t see a \u201cdead end\u201d in those conversations.<\/p>\n But while he told the committee \u201cissues are resolvable,\u201d he also conceded the relationship between the two countries may not \u201cmagically go back to what it may have been a year ago or 25 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n LeBlanc also said Canada would like to see an agreement on tariffs separate to the ongoing CUSMA renegotiation.<\/p>\n Trump first launched a trade war<\/a> in February, when he implemented sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods. He\u2019s since carved out an exemption for imports that are compliant with CUSMA, the free trade agreement between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.<\/p>\n But he\u2019s also set out to fully transform America\u2019s global trade regime, imposing significant sectoral tariffs on steel<\/a>, aluminum<\/a>, autos<\/a> and copper<\/a>. Those levies are stacked on top of any import taxes aimed at specific countries, such as Canada.<\/p>\n Canada and the U.S. have been in ongoing negotiations for a new economic and security deal for months. After campaigning during the federal election on a promise to stand up to Trump, Carney and his team have since insisted they\u2019re prioritizing getting the \u201cbest deal\u201d over a timely one.<\/p>\n The prime minister has also insisted Canada has the best trade deal because 85 per cent of exports to the U.S. remain tariff-free.<\/p>\n Late last month, Carney announced that Canada is dropping many of its counter-tariffs by exempting goods covered by CUSMA. Asked by reporters at the time whether Trump had assured him the move would help spur negotiations, the prime minister said \u201cyes.\u201d<\/p>\n Canada also rescinded its digital services tax<\/a> back in June, which Trump publicly opposed, without securing a concession in return.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/X5LYVINCRZDKTGFI3XIB374H2U.JPG\")
Mark Carney Donald Trump meeting Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump engage in a meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, May 6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Adrian Wyld (Adrian Wyld\/The Canadian Press) <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/UVTFXQBI4RDNVERDJHVB7OQRGI.JPG\")
Canada-U.S. trade: Dominic LeBlanc Dominic LeBlanc President of the King\u2019s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy appears as a witness at a Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade at the Senate Building in Ottawa on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Sean Kilpatrick (Sean Kilpatrick\/The Canadian Press) <\/p>\n