Canada Says U.S. Trade Talks Ongoing Despite Missed Deadline

Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Ottawa remains "encouraged" by its latest meetings with U.S. officials, even though the two sides failed to meet a self-imposed deadline for concluding negotiations. In an interview broadcast by CBS News on 3 August, LeBlanc said discussions with U.S. Trade Representative staff and other senior interlocutors have been constructive and will continue “for weeks” if necessary. LeBlanc stressed that Canada will not "rush into a bad deal" or yield to tariff pressure, but he signalled that a partial agreement to roll back certain duties remains "an option" should both sides make progress. He added that Ottawa is prepared to stay at the table as long as required to secure terms that protect Canada’s long-term economic interests.