Trump sees Canada deal ‘fairly soon,’ downplays leaving CUSMA

Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomeNewsEconomyTrump sees Canada deal ‘fairly soon,’ downplays leaving CUSMATrump’s remarks bolster hopes that the U.S. and Canada are looking to calm tensionsAuthor of the article:U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling back from Ireland to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on Sept. 13, 2026 in flight. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesU.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about resolving a trade fight with Canada and downplayed the prospect of quitting a continental trade pact, in a potential sign of de-escalating tensions between the two countries.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe 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 TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe 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.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate 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.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.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 AccountTrump was asked Saturday whether he intended to have the U.S. leave the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Trade Agreement during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Dublin.“We’re doing great. We’re going to have a great relationship with Mexico. We actually have a good one with Canada,” Trump said.SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE: FP West: Energy Insider brings you behind the oilpatch’s closed doors with exclusive insights from insiders every Wednesday morning.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 FP West: Energy Insider will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againHe went on to say that a deal with Canada could come “fairly soon,” but provided no details on whether formal talks between the two economies had resumed.“Canada has to treat our farmers better, and they can’t charge our farmers tariffs. They’re charging our farmers 400 per cent tariffs and many other things, so when those things go away, they’re willing to get rid of it all,” Trump said, adding, “You’ll probably see a deal with Canada fairly soon.”The U.S. and Canada have been locked in a clash that has expanded well beyond tariffs and that threatens to rupture cross-border supply chains relied on by key industries like auto manufacturing. Talks in August on a broader trade deal collapsed at the last minute, leading Trump to follow through on threats to hit Canada with 50 per cent levies on billions of dollars in goods.Prime Minister Mark Carney retaliated with tariffs on Sept. 8, hitting a score of U.S. consumer goods and raising duties on many U.S. steel products to 50 per cent from 25 per cent. Trump, in turn, announced additional counter-measures against Canada, including bans on certain products while expanding duties on others.Carney, however, recently signalled that another round of retaliation was unlikely, saying that the latest U.S. measures against Canada would only have a “modest” impact overall. The prime minister also confirmed on Thursday that he had spoken to Trump recently on geopolitical issues, though it was not clear if that covered trade.Trump’s remarks Saturday and Carney’s earlier comments bolster hopes that the U.S. and Canada are looking to calm tensions and find an off-ramp to an economic dispute that has morphed into a broader confrontation.The U.S. president has repeatedly mocked Canada, threatening to make it a 51st state and deriding its prime minister as just a “governor,” comments that have fueled anti-Trump sentiment north of the border and allowed Carney to cast himself as a defender of Canadian sovereignty.As the relationship deteriorated, there were fears that Trump might threaten to withdraw from the CUSMA, a dramatic move that could rewrite the rules governing trade across the continent. Any country can quit the trilateral pact on six months’ notice, though the deal’s language is ambiguous on the process.This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.The trade war with Canada has high stakes for Trump, whose Republican Party faces an uphill climb to retain control of Congress in November’s midterm elections. Trump’s popularity is at record lows with voters unhappy over his handling of the economy and Iran war.The tit-for-tat exchange of tariffs also risks exacerbating high prices that have become a dominant concern for the electorate. Republicans in key border states, such as Michigan, which is hosting a crucial Senate race, face blowback.With assistance from Jennifer A. Dlouhy and Josh WingroveNotice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. 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