Canada Rejects US Trade Demands

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has pushed back against reported US demands ahead of upcoming trade talks, insisting that Washington will not dictate the terms of negotiations.

The comments follow reports that the US is seeking so-called entry fees in the form of upfront concessions before formal discussions begin on revising the North American trade agreement.

According to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, sources indicated that officials linked to Donald Trump are pressing Canada to agree to a series of preconditions before engaging in talks.

Responding to the reports, Carney rejected the idea outright, emphasizing that the process would be a negotiation between equals rather than one side imposing demands on the other.

The US and Canada are expected to resume discussions soon to review the existing North American trade framework, although negotiations have been stalled for several months.

US officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, have not publicly commented on the reports.

Since taking office just over a year ago, Carney has repeatedly called for Canada to reduce its economic and security dependence on the US.

Meanwhile, the US has imposed tariffs on key sectors of the Canadian economy, though it has largely maintained the core of the current trade agreement, leaving more than 85% of bilateral trade tariff-free.

Washington has signaled it intends to push for significant changes to the agreement, with negotiations expected to intensify after 1 July.