US and Canada Working on Deal to Ease Steel and Auto Tariffs, Sources Say

The United States and Canada are working on a deal to ease American tariffs on Canadian steel and cars, sources told Reuters, as the two neighbours try to repair a trade relationship that broke down in August. The talks focus on duties imposed under Section 232 of US trade law, including tariffs of up to 50 percent on Canadian steel and 25 percent on automobiles, with negotiators discussing possible relief from those charges.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Canada's trade minister Dominic LeBlanc have been in regular contact, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said there had been a slight intensification in talks, adding that any progress came because Washington was moving closer to Ottawa's position. One Canadian source said a deal on steel and auto tariffs was possible before the US midterm elections on November 3, although American sources said Washington still wants further concessions from Canada.
The tariffs have become a political headache for President Donald Trump, with only 32 percent of Americans approving of him and Republican candidates in border states calling for an end to the trade war. Trump predicted at a rally on Sunday that the dispute would be resolved soon, and on Friday he signed an order removing 50 percent tariffs on some Canadian farm and forestry products. No agreement has been announced yet, and one industry source cautioned that any deal would probably be narrow — and fast, if it happens at all.
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