OTTAWA - Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is warning Prime Minister Mark Carney against giving ground to U.S. negotiators unless Canada wins tariff-free access for Canadian lumber, steel, aluminum and cars. In an open letter to the prime minister, Poilievre and his shadow minister for U.S. relations, Shuvaloy Majumdar, write: “Our message is clear. We want the win and the ‘good deal’ you promised fifteen months ago. No more pursuing policies of a managed decline at home.” The letter comes as Canadian negotiators prepare to start another week of face-to-face meetings in Washington, D.C. On July 21, U.S. President Donald Trump invoked Section 338 of the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930, which allows the president to bypass other authorities and levy penalties by proclamation. With this presidential order, Trump threatened to hit Canada with a new 50 per cent tariff on several categories of Canadian exports, valued at upwards of $28 billion. The tariff would take effect Aug. 19 and would apply to both CUSMA-compliant and non-compliant goods, unless Canada addressed three irritants outlined by Trump. They are the counter-tariffs Canada imposed on U.S. autos, American access to Canada’s dairy market, and the refusal of eight provinces to stock U.S. liquor and wine on their store shelves. The threat of new tariffs triggered a new round of negotiations. Last Thursday, Minister of Canada-U.S. Trade Dominic LeBlanc and Canada’s chief negotiator, Janice Charette, met for 90 minutes with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. There’s been no word of definitive progress, but reports of the concessions Canada is considering started to leak Friday. Possible concessions include automobiles, U.S. alcohol and dairy quotas in exchange for some relief from U.S. tariffs levied against Canadian steel, aluminum, lumber and cars. But the Conservative leader is looking for more than just lower tariffs. Poilievre wants the guarantee of tariff-free access to the U.S. market for those sectors. He also wants the Prime Minister to secure a full exemption from “Buy America” rules on U.S. infrastructure projects. “Canadians deserve a government that has the backbone to fight for our workers, our families, and every inch of our sovereignty,” the Conservative open letter reads. But it remains unclear whether a tariff-free deal is possible. Just two weeks ago, Greer testified before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, where he said, “We are committed to continuing to use tariffs and to negotiate deals to support the re-industrialization of our economy.” A “tariffs are here to stay” message that has been echoed by several U.S. representatives over the past year, including the U.S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra. But the Conservative leader’s letter does put added pressure on Mark Carney, who won the 2025 federal election largely on his “Elbows Up” message to Canadians. Since taking office, Carney has made several concessions to Donald Trump, including a deal made last month to share revenues to get the Canadian-financed Gordie Howe Bridge opened.
