Carney says the U.S. can’t dictate the terms of trade talks ahead of CUSMA review

Prime Minister Mark Carney says the United States won’t dictate the terms of negotiations on the continental trade deal, but it will take time to reach an agreement.

Carney was responding to a Radio-Canada report citing officials who said Americans are imposing an “entry fee” on trade talks with Canada and are demanding concessions before negotiations begin. 

Janice Charette, Canada’s chief trade negotiator with the U.S., said on Tuesday Canada already has made significant concessions by dropping the digital services tax, issuing millions of dollars in refunds to tech companies and ending retaliatory tariffs.

A recent report from the Office of the United States Trade Representative cites some provinces not stocking American alcohol and high tariffs on some American dairy products as trade irritants with Canada.