Trump says US-Canada trade deal 'subject to the finalization of documents'
The Hill · C · trust 51/100
Comments: by Mallory Wilson - 08/19/26 12:52 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Mallory Wilson - 08/19/26 12:52 PM ET Comments: Link copied NOW PLAYING President Trump on Wednesday touted a last-minute breakthrough in trade talks with Canada before new 50 percent tariffs were set to take effect this week, claiming there are “no longer any tariffs” for U.S. exports but noting the deal hasn’t been inked.
“So subject to the finalization of documents, we have a deal with Canada, and I think it’s a very good deal for both parties,” Trump told reporters.
He said he had a “very good conversation” with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday night.
“As you know, the 50 percent tariffs across the board were going against Canada today, and they called yesterday, and they gave us the points that we had to have,” he added.
The U.S. has been demanding an end to Canada’s “discriminatory” tariffs on American alcohol, dairy and motor vehicles.
“The tariffs will be nonexistent for our farmers,” he added. “Our farmers were paying tremendous tariffs into Canada, and those tariffs will be totally eviscerated, down to zero.”
He said U.S. tariffs on Canadian autos are being reduced “a little bit.”
“You got to give something,” he said.
“It’s good for everybody,” he added. “But our farmers are going to be thrilled. Our manufacturers are going to be thrilled. And basically, we have no tariffs going into Canada.”
In a late Tuesday Truth Social post, Trump said he paused the planned 50 percent tariffs on a slew of Canadian goods for three days as talks progressed.
The announcement came just a few hours before the tariffs were set to go into effect at midnight.
“I have paused the 50% Tariffs against Canada, that were scheduled to kick in tomorrow morning for a three day period, based on the fact that Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump didn’t provide any more details of the deal but mentioned the Keystone XL pipeline that runs from Canada into several U.S. states.
“The great Keystone XL Pipeline, long ago killed by Sleepy Joe Biden, may be awoken from the grave!” he added.
According to the White House website, “Canada has expressed a commitment to remove the discriminations or unreasonable and unequal impositions” on dairy, liquor and automobiles.
In a Tuesday statement , Carney said, “Substantial progress has been made, although there is important work still to be done.”
“While we continue this work, Canada remains focused on building a stronger, more independent, and more competitive economy at home,” he added.
He said Canada and the U.S. have been “engaged in intensive discussions” over the past few weeks.
Trump threatened the tariffs under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 last month in response to “discriminatory” trade measures. They would hit products ranging from “wine to hockey sticks to cement” and account for about 5 percent of Canadian exports to the United States.
Section 338 is a long-dormant law that allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 50 percent on a country for discriminating against U.S. products. They have never been used before.
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