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Banderas de Canadá y Estados Unidos junto a un cruce fronterizo comercial con camiones de carga
Ilustración alusiva a las negociaciones comerciales entre Canadá y Estados Unidos. · Imagen generada por EPM

Canada and the United States move toward a new trade deal

Mark Carney confirmed on Sunday a conversation with Donald Trump and said Canada and the United States will work in the coming weeks toward a mutually…

--- The context --- Canada and the United States are talking about trade again after months of friction and a breakdown that left steep tariffs in place. Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed on Sunday that he had spoken with President Donald Trump and said teams from both countries will work in the coming weeks to deliver a mutually beneficial deal for workers and families on both sides of the border. --- The facts --- Carney said the effort builds on recent constructive discussions about a deal that would create jobs, boost affordability for families and fully respect Canada's languages, culture and sovereignty. Canada walked away from talks in August after, in his account, the United States pushed last-minute language that would limit Canada's ability to enter trade deals with other countries, water down French language requirements and hurt the auto industry. That breakdown brought 50% tariffs and dollar-for-dollar retaliation. The announcement comes just days before the Canadian federal government is set to present its new budget on Thursday. Carney told reporters on Wednesday that his government was not yet in a position to close an agreement, adding that they are after the right deal. --- The positions --- On Wednesday, Carney told reporters his government was not at that position on reaching a deal and said they are after the right deal. Trump said on Thursday at a rally in South Carolina that Canada had been treating them extremely nicely recently and that his tariffs had improved relations. By Sunday, Trump had yet to comment on Carney's remarks. The announcement also comes days before the federal budget set for Thursday. --- What remains unknown --- The concrete terms to be negotiated in the coming weeks have not been disclosed, nor whether the issues that caused the August walkout will be revised. It also remains unclear what will happen to the 50% tariffs while talks proceed, and what room Canada will have to protect its auto industry and French language requirements inside any final text that emerges from this renewed process. --- Unanswered questions --- Will both governments manage to close in the coming weeks the deal Carney announced on Sunday? Will the 50% tariffs stay in place until a signed text exists between the two sides? Will Washington drop the language that sought to limit Canada's deals with other countries? What concrete protections will the Canadian auto industry obtain in the negotiation now opening? --- EPM analysis --- The shift matters because it puts economics and sovereignty on the same table. For families, the promise is jobs and better affordability; for Ottawa, the condition is not giving ground on language, culture or the freedom to choose trade partners. Timing also matters, because the announcement suggests no deal will be reached before the United States midterm elections on Tuesday, moving the outcome into a different political setting. 📌 EPM Take: In EPM's view, Carney's announcement opens a real but still fragile opportunity, because resuming dialogue does not by itself resolve the reasons talks broke down in August. Its value lies in setting clear public conditions on jobs, families, language and sovereignty against which any final text can be measured. If the coming weeks produce verifiable progress without surrendering those principles, the negotiation will have been worthwhile for both countries involved and for the confidence of workers and families on both sides of the border.
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