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Or sign-in if you have an account.President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy Dominic LeBlanc speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 28, 2026. Photo by Blair Gable/PostmediaCanada made new and detailed proposals on trade to the U.S. based on negotiating progress in recent weeks, said Canadian cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Accountor“A strong, prosperous Canadian economy is good for North America, and we discussed how we can work together on a number of issues that strengthen the competitiveness of the North American economy,” he said at a press conference in Washington after a meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is under pressure to show that it’s making strides in talks with the Trump administration, as Mexico has already begun bilateral negotiations with the U.S. on renewal of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, or CUSMA.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againLeBlanc refused to share details of the proposals but downplayed suggestions that Canada was being left behind Mexico. Discussions with U.S. policymakers will continue in the coming days — but he also warned that talks could still take a negative turn and that “turbulence” is to be expected.“All of us know that the road to conclusions in these conversations is sometimes not a straight line,” said LeBlanc, a longtime politician and senior cabinet minister who’s responsible for Canada-U.S. trade.He emphasized several times that the CUSMA pact simply continues if not renewed by July 1, though it’s thrown into a process that may amount to years of rolling negotiation and even possible expiry in 2036.Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, also attended the meeting with Greer.Tuesday’s meeting was preceded by a social media post from U.S. President Donald Trump in which he reprised his description of Canada as a “51st state,” while highlighting a Bloomberg News story that Canada’s economy had dipped into a technical recession. Trump’s post was also shared by the U.S. ambassador to Canada.As an example of potential setbacks, LeBlanc said Canada has been preparing for the possibility of more U.S. tariffs. The administration started new trade investigations against a number of countries in March, including Canada. The Canadian government has shared information to try and address U.S. concerns, LeBlanc said — stressing its commitment to issues like fighting forced labour, for instance.LeBlanc said Canada once again made its argument against U.S. tariffs imposed on key industries: autos, steel, aluminum and softwood lumber.Earlier on Tuesday, Carney said the U.S.-Mexico negotiations started first because those countries have more to discuss. The U.S. has about 60 technical trade issues with Mexico compared with about 30 for Canada, Carney told reporters before a meeting of his cabinet in Ottawa.The prime minister said Canada is particularly focused on addressing Trump’s sectoral tariffs. And he confirmed the White House has been pushing for new rules on auto production that would require at least 50 per cent U.S. components for vehicles manufactured in the North American trade zone. He didn’t endorse that position, but noted that Canadian-built cars already meet that threshold, on average.The CUSMA includes provisions that require 75 per cent of a vehicle’s value to come from North America to qualify for tariff-free treatment. Last year, however, Trump imposed new duties on cars made in Mexico and Canada despite that clause.Before heading to Washington, LeBlanc released a letter that praised the merits of the six-year-old trade agreement. Canada wants the deal renewed for another 16 years but is willing to consider proposals that will benefit the prosperity of all three nations, it said. He said he’s received letters from the U.S. and Mexican representatives on their positions but declined to share what they said.The neighbours could agree on a different scenario or schedule, LeBlanc said, “so I think we’ve got to be careful not to set up a cliff that doesn’t exist.” Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.