U.S. Trade Representative says Canada declined proposed trade agreement
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U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer claimed Canada turned down a proposed deal on steel, aluminum, autos and lumber, ending negotiations that began in August.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told Fox News that Canada rejected a proposed trade agreement covering steel, aluminum, automobiles and lumber, ending talks that had been underway since late August. Greer said the United States offered what he described as a highly favorable package, but Canadian officials sought additional tariff relief that Washington could not accommodate.
"We offered them the best deal. They looked at it square in the face and turned around," Greer said on the program.
Greer added that after a preliminary handshake between President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Canadian negotiators returned to Ottawa and asked for further concessions, which he said were not possible under the existing proposal. He noted that the United States has long allowed most Canadian goods to enter duty-free and that Canada, along with China, has taken retaliatory steps against U.S. trade measures.
The trade talks were suspended on Aug. 21, with U.S. officials attributing the breakdown to new Canadian demands and revisions to earlier commitments. Greer said he has received informal outreach from Canadian officials but no formal negotiations since the suspension, and he indicated that any future agreement would depend on actions taken by Canada.