Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Ottawa will continue negotiations with the Trump administration after the U.S. midterms, with talks conducted through the executive branch, Anadolu Agency reported.
Speaking to reporters in Ottawa Wednesday, LeBlanc said the midterm vote had not changed the Canadian government’s priorities. He cited affordability, major projects, a stronger economy and broader trade ties, saying the same agenda would continue in the budget.
LeBlanc said the current Congress and Trump administration will remain in place until newly elected members of Congress are sworn in and begin their terms. The new Congress is due to take office in January, Anadolu Agency reported. LeBlanc said trade talks take place with the U.S. executive branch rather than Congress.
“The American Congress will act in the interests of the American Congress,” LeBlanc said, adding that Ottawa would focus on issues it can address at home. He congratulated those elected in the U.S. vote and said Canadians should not infer why particular American voters chose as they did.
The comments follow earlier public statements that gave no sign of a restart in negotiations, according to EconoTimes’ coverage of stalled U.S.-Canada trade talks. In an Oct. 23 White House exchange, Trump said Canada wanted a deal and described the United States as having “all the cards” in negotiations with Canada and Mexico, but offered no terms or timetable. Tariff disputes remained unresolved, the earlier report said.
