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U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says he regularly speaks with his Canadian counterpart, but the two sides have reached an impasse on some trade irritants and there’s no sign of a resolution any time soon.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters at the G20 meeting of trade ministers in Milwaukee, Greer sounded pessimistic about the prospect of a deal with the Canadians saying while “technical talks” are ongoing between trade experts from both countries there are some fundamental disagreements.<\/p>\n
“The reality is there are a handful of outstanding issues that are quite difficult to resolve,” Greer said.<\/p>\n
Greer said the Trump administration’s policy of imposing tariffs on foreign manufactured goods to try to “reindustrialize” America is a universal one and not “focused on one country.”<\/p>\n
Canada, meanwhile, maintains that punishing tariffs on industrial products like steel, aluminum and autos make no sense given just how integrated the two economies are after decades of free trade.<\/p>\n
The federal government has strenuously opposed U.S. tariffs designed to decimate those key Canadian sectors, saying it’s no way to treat a supposed ally. Plus, Canada is America’s biggest customer, purchasing more American-exported goods than any other country.<\/p>\n
U.S. losing manufacturing jobs<\/p>\n
Still, Greer said Canada and other countries treat the United States as “a dumping ground” for their products and the U.S. just wants to produce more of what it consumes domestically. He added that these policies shouldn’t be read as “threats against Canada” alone.<\/p>\n
Despite Greer’s claims that these tariff policies are boosting industrial employment, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics compiled by the Economic Policy Institute shows that some, 62,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost<\/a> since Trump took office for his second term in January 2025.<\/p>\n WATCH | Carney laughs at Trump’s claim that Canada will apologize to U.S.: Carney laughs at Trump’s claim that Canada will apologize to U.S.<\/p>\n Asked by CBC News about U.S. President Donald Trump’s comment on Monday that Canada will soon apologize to get a trade deal, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada ‘stands ready to negotiate in good faith’ for a deal that ‘respects both our countries’ sovereignty.’<\/p>\n International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, who is responsible for non-U.S. trade, met with Greer while in Wisconsin.<\/p>\n The conversation was focused primarily on wider world trade issues like ending forced labour and the phenomenon of some countries like China dumping heavily state-subsidized products into market economies.<\/p>\n But the Canada-U.S. dispute did come up, Sidhu said in an interview with CBC News.<\/p>\n He said he stressed to Greer that the two countries need to “find a way to work together, especially for our auto supply workers.”<\/p>\n “I think there is energy from both sides,” Sidhu said, calling it a “very cordial conversation.”<\/p>\n “But we want a good deal,” he said. “We won’t accept anything less.”<\/p>\n Greer downplays Trump’s deal comments<\/p>\n Speaking earlier Thursday to Bloomberg News from the summit, Greer seemed to downplay President Donald Trump’s assertion this week that the Canadians would come calling for a deal and that something could come together within a month.<\/p>\n “You’ve heard the president talk about this. Most recently he said, ‘Well, we may have a deal with Canada in a few weeks.’ I’d emphasize the ‘may’ in that part of the situation,” Greer said.<\/p>\n Greer reiterated that the U.S. is open to a deal with Canada, but he suggested Prime Minister Mark Carney and his negotiators can’t accept what the Americans are offering.<\/p>\n “The question is does Canada want to get to ‘yes’ on some of these things. We have a trade policy where we’re not inclined to go to zero tariffs because we’re trying to reshore,” he said. “Gaps remain between Canada and the United States.”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1790937260_334_default.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"U.S.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1790937260_652_default.jpg\")
Greer attends the first day of the G20 Trade Ministerial Conference in Milwaukee on Wednesday. (Kamil Krzacysnki\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n