Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has written a strongly worded letter to the prime minister in anticipation of his upcoming meeting with the U.S. president. In the letter shared with CBC News, Poilievre expressed disappointment in Mark Carney’s performance on trade matters and urged him to secure favorable outcomes for Canada during his current trip.
Despite Carney’s earlier promises to negotiate advantageous deals for Canada and provide relief from tariffs this summer, those commitments did not materialize as expected. The deadline for reaching agreements on border and fentanyl-related tariffs, along with Section 232 tariffs covering steel, aluminum, autos, and other Canadian goods, was missed by Carney and President Trump.
Subsequently, Trump has escalated pressure on Canada by imposing new tariffs on lumber and furniture, as well as increasing rates on existing tariffs. Poilievre criticized Carney for failing to deliver on his pledges and emphasized the need for tangible wins for Canada, such as the removal of tariffs on softwood lumber, steel, aluminum, and autos, as well as addressing discriminatory Buy American regulations.
Carney, along with several cabinet ministers, is scheduled to meet with the U.S. president at the White House on Tuesday to discuss shared priorities in the economic and security relationship between Canada and the U.S. Poilievre encouraged Carney to engage with him and other Conservatives to ensure successful tariff negotiations with the U.S.
While Carney has argued that Canada maintains a favorable trade position with the U.S. due to exemptions under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), Poilievre remains critical of the ongoing negotiations. Government sources remain cautiously optimistic that Carney may secure relief from steel tariffs during his meeting with Trump, with experts suggesting progress is likely given the frequency of high-level engagement between the two leaders.
Laura Dawson, an expert on Canada-U.S. relations, expressed optimism about potential developments in the trade discussions between Carney and Trump. She highlighted the determination of Canada to address Section 232 tariffs before the upcoming CUSMA review process, indicating a positive outlook for potential announcements following the meeting.
Overall, there is anticipation surrounding the outcome of Carney’s discussions with Trump, with a focus on achieving favorable results for Canada in the ongoing trade negotiations.