Canada’s Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and his U.S. counterpart are working on a proposal to present to President Donald Trump for a potential trade deal by Monday. Sources familiar with the matter indicate that the aim is to deliver the joint proposal to Trump at least a day before the upcoming tariff deadline. This timeline would allow Trump to make a final decision before new 50% tariffs on numerous Canadian imports are set to come into effect on August 19.

LeBlanc recently met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington for the third time in as many weeks. Following their meeting, neither LeBlanc nor Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, responded to reporters’ inquiries. The discussions lasted approximately an hour, with LeBlanc later mentioning on social media that talks are ongoing and that they will continue engaging at the negotiation table.

In addition to seeking to discourage the imposition of new tariffs by the U.S., LeBlanc and Charette are also pursuing relief from sectoral tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Canadian steel, aluminum, lumber, and automobiles. Canada is hopeful that the ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries will lead to an extension of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) after the Trump administration declined to renew the deal in July.

The U.S. recently announced trade irritants, including Canada’s response to U.S. trade policies by removing U.S. alcohol from provincial store shelves and alleged Canadian discrimination against U.S. motor vehicles and dairy products. Statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the alcohol bans in most Canadian provinces resulted in significant drops in wine and spirit exports to Canada in 2025 compared to the previous year. The new tariffs will affect approximately 5% of Canadian exports to the U.S., covering a range of goods from alcohol to hockey equipment to cement.

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner emphasized the importance of Canada negotiating from a position of strength with the White House. She also criticized Prime Minister Mark Carney for not yet securing a trade agreement with the Trump administration despite being in office for over a year. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre echoed these sentiments, calling on Carney to demonstrate resolve in trade negotiations and secure a favorable deal for Canadians.