Trump and Carney Intensify Trade Talks Before U.S. Midterms
President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney are accelerating trade negotiations as the U.S. administration adjusts tariffs to influence upcoming midterm elections.
The United States and Canada are intensifying trade negotiations as the U.S. midterm elections approach on November 3. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett reported that talks are gathering steam and the two nations are close to a deal, following a period of stalled negotiations in August.
Donald Trump has adjusted tariffs on Canada, removing some while adding others, in a move seen as support for Republican Senator Susan Collins' re-election bid in Maine. Trump claimed that Canada is willing to give the U.S. anything at this moment, while previously asserting that Canada has been ripping off the United States for years.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada is ready to negotiate in good faith, though he noted the U.S. administration can be hard to predict. Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden criticized the tariff changes as a desperate attempt to save Collins' political career, arguing that voters are rejecting the administration's tariff policies. Senator Collins stated she will continue working with officials to seek relief and a broader trade agreement.
