Prime Minister Mark Carney listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a group photo at the G7 Summit, in June.Mark Schiefelbein/The Associated Press
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada’s trade talks with the U.S. have a different context than those the Trump administration is holding with other countries, adding that negotiations toward reaching a new deal by Aug. 1 continue.
Mr. Carney was responding to news Sunday that the U.S. had struck a framework trade deal with the European Union that imposes a 15-per-cent U.S. tariff on most EU goods, including autos, and leaves 50-per-cent levies on steel and aluminum shipments from the continent.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will hike tariffs on goods from Canada not covered by the North American free trade pact if Ottawa and Washington cannot reach a deal by Friday.
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Mr. Carney was asked after an announcement in P.E.I. Monday whether Canadians should expect a deal that mirrors the one struck with the EU.
He said the EU’s relationship with the U.S. is similar to Canada’s in some ways, but there are also differences – geography, of course, as well as America’s need to buy energy from Canada, rather than sell it.
That makes trade talks different, he said.
“There is a landing zone that’s possible, but we have to get there, and we’ll see what happens.”
Mr. Carney also restated that it may not be possible to strike a deal with the U.S. that includes the removal of tariffs.
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Prior to his remarks on the trade talks, the Prime Minister announced that the toll on the Confederation Bridge between Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick is being cut from more than $50 to $20 as of Aug. 1.
The government is also cutting fares on regional ferries by 50 per cent.
Mr. Carney promised both measures during the spring election campaign.