Canadian authorities do not expect any easing of US tariffs after Prime Minister Mark Carney's meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington, but they also have not ruled out the “factor of unpredictability“ of the American leader,” the National Post newspaper reported, citing a senior source in the Canadian delegation.
According to the source, this will be “a working meeting designed to discuss specific issues“ and as a result, “breakthroughs or signed agreements“ are not expected“. At the same time, the Canadian delegation does not rule out the factor of “Trump's unpredictability“.
Carney will meet with Trump in Washington on Tuesday. A day earlier, CBC, citing sources in Canadian government circles, reported that Ottawa expects U.S. tariffs on Canadian metals to be eased after the meeting, and subsequently on other goods.
After Ottawa and Washington failed to reach a trade deal by August 1, Trump issued an executive order raising tariffs on certain Canadian goods not covered by the Canada-Mexico-United States Free Trade Agreement from 25% to 35%. Canada has been trying unsuccessfully to reach a trade deal with the United States for several months. Meanwhile, tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum are currently at 50%.
Ottawa has lifted some retaliatory import duties on a range of U.S. goods since September 1 amid a trade deficit that hit a record high of C$19.5 billion (about $14 billion) in the second quarter of 2025.