Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to demonstrate more resolve in the ongoing trade discussions with the United States. In a letter addressed to Carney and shared with the media, Poilievre and his Canada-U.S. relations critic, Shuvaloy Majumdar, expressed concerns about Ottawa’s compliance with several of Trump’s requests over the past year.
They highlighted actions such as abandoning the digital service tax, eliminating Canada’s counter-tariffs, and including the United States in an agreement to share toll revenue from the newly inaugurated Gordie Howe International Bridge linking Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, Mich. Poilievre and Majumdar disputed Carney’s assertion that no agreement is preferable to a subpar one, pointing out the negative impact on employment in Canadian cities reliant on cross-border supply chains.
“In the last 18 months, you have continuously yielded to American demands without receiving any reciprocal benefits, making concession after concession,” Poilievre criticized Carney in the letter. The letter also highlighted the escalation of American tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, as well as on lumber.
Poilievre emphasized that Canadians deserve a fair deal, which includes no tariffs on softwood lumber, the removal of sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminum, a tariff-free auto pact, and full exemption from Buy America regulations for infrastructure projects across all government levels. He emphasized the need to halt the decline of Canadian policies and to avoid further concessions.
The upcoming imposition of 50 percent U.S. tariffs on various Canadian goods on August 19 has led to intensified trade negotiations between the two nations. The Conservatives reiterated their proposal to bolster Canada’s bargaining position by establishing a strategic reserve of critical minerals, open to countries granting tariff-free access to their markets.
While both Canada and Mexico expressed interest in extending the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) for another 16 years, the United States opted for annual reviews instead of a long-term extension. Dairy farmers in Canada have urged the government not to make concessions regarding the supply management system, which safeguards the Canadian dairy industry. Carney affirmed the government’s commitment to this system despite pressures from the U.S.
Industry sources revealed that Canada is considering meeting some U.S. demands, including lifting bans on American alcohol sales, to secure tariff relief. In return, Canada is seeking the removal of the new 50 percent tariffs, relief from sectoral tariffs on key industries, and a commitment to resume CUSMA talks in the autumn from the U.S.