Quebec Economy Minister Bernard Drainville said Canada and the United States have still not reached an agreement, just days before new tariffs are due to come into force. “There is still no agreement; in fact, they are quite far from reaching one … at the moment, there is no indication that Mr. Trump might postpone the application of the 50 per cent tariffs next Tuesday,” said Drainville following a meeting with Dominic Leblanc, the minister responsible for Canada–U.S. trade, who is in Washington as part of the negotiations. Drainville announced in front of representatives from the agri-food sector, who fear concessions regarding the dairy sector. He emphasized that discussions between Washington and Ottawa are expected to continue over the coming days to reach an agreement. Sitting beside him, Premier Christine Fréchette maintained that no concessions should be made regarding supply management. “There is a great deal at stake in the current negotiations; that is undeniable,” the premier said. “For us, it is essential to preserve supply management; we have made this a red line that must not be crossed.” “We do not yet know how this will play out,” added Fréchette before meeting with representatives from the agri-food sector. In recent weeks, Washington has announced its intention to impose new 50 per cent tariffs on a wide range of Canadian products from 19 August. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Aug. 14, 2026.
