OTTAWA — Dominic LeBlanc said Sunday that he expects Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump will speak "over the next number of days" as the United States ratchets up pressure in trade talks.
The Canada-U.S. trade minister appeared on CBS's "Face the Nation" and spoke about where talks stand between the two countries.
LeBlanc told host Margaret Brennan that while Canada is "disappointed" with Trump's new 35-per-cent tariffs, he is continuing to work toward a deal that would hopefully strike down trade restrictions between the nations.
He said Canada is attempting to structure a deal that would see Canadian and U.S. suppliers continue to exchange goods while protecting jobs on both sides of the border.
LeBlanc was in Washington last week attempting to find common ground with the Trump administration ahead of Friday's deadline to secure a new deal between the trading partners. His office said he was in touch with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Thursday.
While Mexico was granted a 90-day delay on new duties, Trump hit Canada with a 35-per-cent tariff on all goods that are not compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade.
Up to 90 per cent of Canadian goods might be able to avoid those higher tariffs due thanks to CUSMA compliance, said Michael Dobner, national leader of economics and policy practice at PwC Canada, on Friday.
Canada also continues to face U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles as well as Trump's new 50 per cent tariffs on semi-finished copper products.
Trump signed an executive order Thursday night to hit Canada with the increased duties. A fact sheet from the White House rationalized the rate change by claiming Canada "failed to co-operate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl" and citing Ottawa's implementation of retaliatory tariffs.
Asked whether he felt U.S. negotiations had been in good faith, LeBlanc told Brennan, "the conversations have been informative, constructive and cordial."
"We left, always, with a better understanding of the American concerns in the trading relationship," LeBlanc said.
He added that Canada remains "very optimistic" that the nations can come to an agreement with the United States that strengthens both economies.
"We're prepared to stick around and do the work needed."
LeBlanc described Carney's relationship with Trump as "business-like" and "respectful."
Carney said in a media statement after Trump imposed the new tariffs on Friday that he was disappointed in the new duties.
"While we will continue to negotiate with the United States on our trading relationship, the Canadian government is laser focused on what we can control: building Canada strong," he wrote.
Earlier in the week, Carney had been tempering expectations of an agreement materializing by Friday, saying Ottawa will only agree to a deal "if there's one on the table that is in the best interests of Canadians."
— with files from Kelly Geraldine Malone in Washington
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 3, 2025.
Craig Lord, The Canadian Press
