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Top US and Canadian officials have held the first face-to-face meeting amid escalating trade tensions.
Some shit you should know before you read: Weeks ago, President Trump said he would put 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, arguing that the move was necessary to protect American industries and reduce reliance on foreign metals. The tariffs applied to all countries, including Canada, the largest supplier of both materials to the US—accounting for roughly 25% of the steel and over half of the aluminum used in the US economy. Trump justified the tariffs as a national security measure under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, claiming that dependence on foreign metals weakened domestic production and put critical industries at risk. In response, the Canadian government retaliated by imposing countertariffs on $29.8 billion worth of American goods, including steel, aluminum, and consumer products. As the dispute intensified, Ontario Premier Doug Ford proposed a 25% electricity surcharge on three US states but later withdrew it after Trump threatened to double steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%.
What’s going on now: Following a meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Canadian officials, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, described the discussions as constructive despite the aggressive rhetoric from the US side. Lutnick, who had publicly criticized Canada just hours before the meeting, maintained a tough stance on tariffs, while Canadian officials pushed back, stressing the importance of fair trade and economic cooperation. Although no new commitments were made, both parties agreed to continue discussions next week, signaling a willingness to keep the dialogue open despite ongoing tensions.
Ford, speaking to reporters outside the Department of Commerce building, called the meeting “the best” he had ever attended in Washington, expressing optimism about the future of Canada-US trade relations. He said Lutnick was a tough negotiator but insisted that Canada was equally determined to stand up for its industries and workers. LeBlanc backed this sentiment, stating that Canada would not negotiate its dairy sector outside of existing trade agreements and would continue to pursue retaliatory measures if necessary.
This comes after Lutnick used media appearances before and after the meeting to portray Canada’s countertariffs as unnecessary and politically motivated, even suggesting they were designed to sway Canadian voters ahead of upcoming elections. He also reiterated Trump’s stance that Canada should halt its retaliatory measures and accept the US tariffs as part of a broader effort to protect American industry.
