Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says the U.S. president and executive, not Congress, will decide trade agreements for the next two to three years, despite Democratic midterm wins.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the U.S. president and executive branch will remain the key decision-makers on trade agreements for the next two to three years, despite Democrats’ sweeping victories in last week’s U.S. midterm elections.
Carney made the remarks in Montreal on Nov. 10, responding to Quebec’s plans to contact U.S. officials, including governors and senators. He said the people who decide on trade agreements are "the executive in the United States over the next two or three years" and that "The President, the executive and Americans, not necessarily legislators."
Canada suspended trade negotiations in August after what Carney described as unacceptable U.S. demands involving Canadian sovereignty, cultural protections and other issues. The U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on billions of dollars in Canadian goods, prompting Canadian retaliation. Carney said Canada has overcome disputes involving French-language protections and Canadian cultural programming that helped derail an agreement in August, but unresolved issues remain.
"There are still some tough issues to resolve with the Americans in this negotiation," Carney said.
Carney said he spoke with Trump over the weekend and could meet him at upcoming summits, adding that the leaders communicate regularly. "It’s good to sit down, but it’s not absolutely necessary," he said.
Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden has made tariffs on Canada a repeal priority, though Trump could veto any legislation. Carney welcomed Democratic efforts to repeal Trump’s tariffs but did not say whether the election changed Canada’s negotiating strategy.
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, a coalition of more than 400 American and Canadian communities, called for a resumption of trade talks. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson told the Toronto Sun that the trade war "was started by President Trump and then escalated by the Canadian government and Prime Minister Carney."
The region accounts for more than half of all Canada-U.S. trade, generating upwards of $12 trillion in economic output a year, according to the coalition.
The trade dispute continues to affect businesses and consumers on both sides of the border. With the U.S. executive branch retaining control over trade policy, Canada faces a choice between accepting a deal that reduces but does not eliminate tariffs, or holding out for free trade while Congress considers challenges to the existing tariffs.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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