LeBlanc back in Washington for resumed trade negotiations with U.S. officials

Minister Dominic LeBlanc speaks about the challenges of reaching a deal with the U.S. and the urgent need to finalize an agreement soon.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is back in Washington to resume negotiations with the American administration amid the ongoing trade war, CTV News has confirmed.

After a high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Mark Carney, and several other Canadian and American officials early last week, LeBlanc stayed in town to pursue further talks.

While he returned to Canada for the weekend, he headed back to the United States on Monday and has been there since.

“As Canada works towards an agreement with the United States, Minister LeBlanc is in Washington D.C. this week for further engagements with senior U.S. officials,” Jean-Sebastian Comeau, LeBlanc’s director of communications, wrote to CTV News.

In addition to blanket tariffs on all Canadian imports that are not covered by the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), Trump has also imposed sectoral levies on autos, steel, aluminum and copper.

He also added new tariffs on lumber, which came into effect on Tuesday.

Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Sabia is also in Washington and taking part in the meetings, the Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed.

While LeBlanc categorized last week’s meeting as “successful,” “positive” and “effective” when speaking to reporters, the talks did not yield a new trade and economic deal to end the trade dispute.

Following last week’s meeting, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick dismissed any prospect of a comprehensive auto deal with Canada, while speaking during a U.S.-Canada Summit in Toronto.

The federal government, meanwhile, has signalled it is now seeking sectoral deals to find relief for impacted industries like steel and aluminum.

Consultations are also currently underway ahead of next year’s talks to renegotiate CUSMA.

With files from CTV News’ Mike Le Couteur