The U.S. has reversed its position on discoverability and bilingual labelling, U.S. Canada Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said on Thursday.
“Canada welcomes that the U.S. is now withdrawing its positions on discoverability and labelling and is confirming that measures to promote French language and Canadian culture will not be subject to future U.S. trade actions,” LeBlanc said.
Canada will look forward to “constructive U.S. clarifications on their other positions which would create the possibility of a mutually beneficial trade agreement that respects Canadian sovereignty,” he said.
A day after talks collapsed, Prime Minister Mark Carney said last-minute demands by the U.S. on the discoverability of Canadian content on streaming platform and bilingual labelling had emerged as a non-negotiable sticking point for Canada.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump had denied making those demands.
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“I would never interfere with Canadians speaking French! In fact, I have never even thought of doing such a stupid thing,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“This lie was made up by a weak and ineffective Prime Minister in an attempt to gain political support, which he has totally lost, from the people of Quebec. I love French Canadians!”
Canadian businesses continue to weather Trump’s latest duties while they await the planned reprisal from Ottawa to take effect.
Canada removes seafood from planned counter-tariffs
Late Wednesday evening, Finance Canada issued a statement saying it had been receiving feedback from Canadian industries and is making some adjustments to the list of counter-tariffs.
Canada’s response, spelled out on Tuesday, includes raising tariffs on American steel and aluminum products from 25 to 50 per cent.
The federal government will also impose tariffs ranging from 15 to 50 per cent on hundreds of other U.S. exports, including clothing and apparel, appliances, and dairy products.
In this case, the statement said that to protect against broader economic harm, seafood and fish products have been removed from the list, but no further details were released.
United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has stated on several occasions that if there is further Canadian retaliation, the Trump administration will not sit idly by and take it.
–with files from Canadian Press
@Anonymous. Whatever the proposed deal is, it contains concessions on dairy and other items. Note that I do believe there are informal negotiations taking place. In any case, releasing the proposed deal now would sink negotiations as the public reaction would be visceral. Trump has already admitted to adding terms at the 11th hour- as reported by multiple news outlets. Ergo, this is why Carney shut down negotiations, which also coincidentally boosted his chances in the by-elections.
@Ben Carney walked away from the negotiations so there are no ongoing negotiations taking place at this time. So there is absolutely no reason why the deal Carney walked away from cannot be released so Canadians can see what actually took place and why Carney shut down the deal. Not only Trump has a history of lying. Carney also has a history of lying to Canadians. So let us see the deal in black and white on paper so we can make up our own mind just who is lying this time.
@A. I would likely back anyone in government over the Americans. I back Ford who is a right wing conservative over the Americans. Trump and his administration have lied hundreds of times. Given that record, I automatically believe Carney here.
@Dave. The deal cannot be released as it is still being negotiated. Negotiating terms may change and commercial interests may be affected (which may affect share prices). Also any proposed deal will be immediately attacked, tying the governnents hands.
The results of standing up to a bully. The bully TACO’s. The Liberals should have done this a couple of years ago. Then we would not be stuck with US controlled F-35 fighters and wasting money on submarines and border patrols looking for Canadian drugs going upstream.
The big question… do we believe him, or will he change his mind once there is an agreement like he is doing with CUSMA?
And anyone believes Trump.Not.
Mary at 931 am. Why would you trust the banker? What has he done for Canadians?
On the one hand Greer said there weren’t any last minute changes, now they’re backing down? It’s like the polar express midway ride and grand central station with these goofs.
Can’t trust the Americans with anything….the worst liars ever.
They risked 1000s of jobs for freaking french labeling. The Liberal party is an absolute disgrace
I am still waiting for evidence it was even demanded
They want my support but dont have the common decency to release the terms of the agreement they turned down