Trump Says No Rush on Canada Deal as Trade Fight Gets Tougher

President Donald Trump is in no hurry to close a trade deal with Canada, according to his top trade official, as the two countries remain locked in a tariff standoff that has continued for weeks with no new formal talks scheduled.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC on Friday that there is “no urgency” to reach an agreement with Canada. He added that President Trump is at ease with the present state of trade relations, even though the negotiations fell apart last month.

Greer’s comments highlight the lack of momentum toward resolving one of North America’s most significant trade disputes in recent months.

U.S.-Canada Trade Talks Remain Stalled

The Canadian negotiators departed from the negotiating table in Washington in late August after Prime Minister Mark Carney had stated that the U.S. officials had put forward final terms which he regarded as unacceptable.

After the breakdown, another round of tariff measures was introduced. On Aug. 22, Trump imposed tariffs of 50% on a variety of Canadian goods, such as wine, hockey sticks and cement. In response, Carney applied retaliatory tariffs equal in amount on American products, including steel, dairy and appliances, these being effective from Sept. 8.

Greer has blamed Canada for the impasse. “We gave them a deal, they left,” he said Friday, repeating earlier remarks in which he accused Ottawa of seeking favorable terms after the two sides had appeared close to an agreement.

U.S.-Canada Trade Continues Despite Standoff

Greer said trade between the two countries has continued, which he cited as one reason the administration doesn’t feel pressure to return to negotiations immediately.

“We’re still getting what we need from them in terms of oil, gas, potash,” Greer said, adding that agricultural products continue moving across the border in both directions.

U.S. Census Bureau data cited in the CNBC interview show Canada exported $234 billion worth of goods to the United States from January through July this year, while importing $205 billion in U.S. goods over the same period.

During the same period in 2024, Canada exported $241 billion worth of goods to the United States and imported $205 billion in U.S. goods. The figures indicate a decline in Canadian exports to the U.S. but show that bilateral trade has continued at a substantial level.

Greer also described the dispute with Canada as part of a broader U.S. trade policy rather than a measure directed solely at Ottawa.

“Our trade policy is a global policy,” he said. “It applies to Canada, China, the U.K., Brazil, all kinds of countries.”

Trump Has Sent Mixed Signals on Canada Deal

Trump’s public comments on Canada have varied in recent weeks.

Speaking to reporters in Ireland on Sept. 12, Trump said an agreement could still be reached despite the ongoing dispute. “You’ll probably see a deal with Canada fairly soon,” he said, according to Bloomberg.

Trump also renewed his criticism of the U.S.-Canada trade relationship, saying the United States had been “ripped off for 50 years by Canada.” He played down the prospect of withdrawing from the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the trade pact that replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed earlier this month that no calls were scheduled between Carney and Trump and that no Canadian trade negotiators had plans to return to Washington.

No Timeline Announced For Trade Resumption

The lack of urgency from Washington leaves Canadian exporters facing continued tariff exposure without a clear timeline for relief.

Greer said U.S. officials are still having “good conversations” with Canadian counterparts, but he did not say when formal negotiations might resume.

“There’s still a lot of strong trade between the two countries. We’re comfortable with where we are,” Greer said, describing the current U.S. position.

Canada is the top destination for U.S. exports and a major supplier of energy and agricultural products to the U.S. market, and further tariff escalation could affect businesses and consumers in both countries.

The two governments remain engaged through ongoing contacts, and awaits for the timetable for a return to formal trade negotiations.