Canadian Prime Minister Carney reports progress in trade talks with Trump days before U.S. midterms

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday that a phone conversation with President Donald Trump went well and that negotiators will spend the next few weeks trying to finalize a trade agreement. The announcement comes just two days before the Nov. 3 midterm elections and suggests the long-running dispute between the neighbors may be easing. Carney described the outlines of a deal as one that would add jobs, reduce household costs and safeguard Canadian sovereignty, culture and languages, according to PBS NewsHour.

Tensions have run high since August, when Canada left the bargaining table after refusing American demands that Carney said endangered sovereignty, French-language protections and the auto sector. Trump then imposed 50% tariffs on about $20 billion in Canadian goods, and Canada hit back with its own measures. Discussions restarted later but moved unevenly. As recently as Wednesday, Carney said a pact before Election Day was out of reach. Relief on steel and automobile tariffs is reportedly under discussion, though nothing specific has been disclosed.

The tariffs are also weighing on races in Michigan and Maine, where Republicans have faced pressure over damage to local businesses. Mike Rogers, running for the Senate in Michigan, has urged an end to the tariffs.

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →