Overview
- Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday that he would not restrict energy supplies to the United States because trust and reliability matter for Canada’s long‑term trade ties.
- Canada’s chief negotiator Janice Charette and Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc are in Washington pursuing a deal to forestall the 50 percent U.S. duties.
- The White House announced duties that take effect on Aug. 19 and would apply 50 percent tariffs to roughly US$20 billion of Canadian exports on top of existing steel, auto and aluminum levies.
- Provincial leaders are split over tactics with some urging tougher measures while Ottawa is favouring measured restraint, contingency supports for affected firms and behind‑the‑scenes diplomacy.
- Business groups and economists warn that using energy as a bargaining chip could destabilize integrated North American supply chains and that Ottawa is looking at market diversification and targeted help as second‑order responses.