By Karim Hammam
Trade negotiations between Canada and the United States have made only modest progress, a Canadian official familiar with the talks said Wednesday, as President Donald Trump’s Republican Party faces potential losses in next week’s midterm elections.
Tariffs become political liability
Tariffs on Canadian imports have become a political liability for Republican candidates in border states, who are demanding an end to the trade war. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday that talks to ease U.S. tariffs on Canadian automobiles and steel had seen “a slight intensification,” but insisted any movement reflects Washington moving toward Canada’s position, not Ottawa concessions.
Obama mocks tariff war
Former President Barack Obama mocked the tariff dispute during a Saturday campaign speech in Michigan supporting Democratic candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Jocelyn Benson. Referring sarcastically to Canada as a “well-known evil empire,” Obama noted the neighbor is “a few minutes’ drive over the bridge” and praised Canadians as “the nicest people.”
Republican candidate urges end to tariffs
Mike Rogers, the Republican candidate challenging El-Sayed in Michigan, said in a campaign ad that Canada is “not our enemy” and called for an immediate end to the tariff war.
Section 232 duties focus of talks
Recent negotiations have centered on Section 232 tariffs, which impose duties of up to 50% on Canadian steel and 25% on cars. The U.S. Commerce Department, which oversees those tariffs, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump predicts resolution
Trump predicted Sunday that the dispute would be resolved “soon,” though he offered no specifics. In August, talks collapsed, prompting Trump to impose 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, with Canada retaliating. “They asked too much and offered too little,” Carney said at the time.
