Canada and US trade negotiators work toward deal before tariff deadline

Canadian and American trade officials met in Washington on Thursday and Friday to try to finish a trade deal before new US tariffs started on Saturday. Canada's Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc spoke with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for over three hours on Thursday. LeBlanc said the two sides were very close to an agreement. Leaked information suggested the US would lower tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum from 50% to 25%. Car tariffs could also fall from 25% to 15%. In return, Canada was considering giving American farmers more access to its dairy market. However, a recent poll found that 56% of Canadians did not want their government to make more concessions. The two countries have had difficult trade relations for 18 months.