The following US-Canada trade is an interview transcript with Canadian Minister Dominic LWC, which was aired on 3 August 2025 on “Face the Nation with the Margaret Brain”.
Margaret Brainon: We now go to Canadian Minister US-Canada Business, Dominic Lablac, who involves us from Monkton, Canada this morning. Good morning to you.
Min. Leblanc: Good morning, Ms. Brainon.
Margaret Brainon: You were just interacting in Washington. And when the conversation continues officially, you leave the city without a deal, and you leave the city, now, what is 35% tariff on goods. When you are still on the table, how much was the President’s decision?
Min. Leblanc: So we were clearly disappointed with that decision. We believe that in terms of building two strong economies, there is a large part of the common land working well between the United States and Canada. This is the history of the 40 -year free trade agreement that goes back to President Reagan. We were happy that the United States is respected the terms of the USMCA Agreement. This is important, we think, for the cost of life and strength, of course in the United States, it is also true in Canada. Therefore, we will continue to work. We always left, with better understanding of American concerns in trading relationship. Ambassador Greece, Secretary is engaged with us in robbery, creative, cordial conversation. So we are ready to stick around and do the necessary work. We think, Ms. Brainon, that the economies of the two countries are strengthened when we work together, the business relationship between Canada and the United States is contrary to other partners. A detail, without which I thought was very suitable; We do not sell things as much as we create things together. And this is why it is difficult in this relationship when it is so integrated. But we are very optimistic.
Margaret Brainon: But, you have heard that Ambassador Girer says Canada – because Canada retaliated for the initial tariffs in April, when the Prime Minister was in the Trudeau office, you are now paying the price, even if you have a new government. If this is the issue, why not make that concession and pull back?
Min. Leblanc: Therefore, our new Prime Minister, Prime Minister Carney has said, “We think, a very business-like, respectable relationship with President Trump has been formed.” We think it is clearly very important for Canada, and we think to the United States. We are working with the steel sector in Canada, taking. This is a strategic significance for national security in Canada, as it is for President Trump and American economy. Now we have a situation where 50% tariff is. We are the largest steel export markets for the United States. We have 25% tariff. When we want to sell something in the United States, there is 50% tariff. Therefore, effectively, we are blocked by doing so. But it is necessary for Canada’s national security interest that we have a viable steel and aluminum field, and my interaction with Secretary Lutnik and others is an example, where we do the right thing together, we have, Ms. Brain, the most difficult rules of any country work with Chinese dumping in Canada. We have melted and traveled, so that the products coming from other countries with sugar steel cannot be put in the Canadian market. Therefore, we are looking at the ideas and moving forward where we can work with the United States, as well, ensuring that our economy has important areas for Canada’s economic future. However, it is not contrary to President Trump’s national security objectives in the United States, of course.
Margaret Brainon: Well, I want to talk more about this idea of the so -called fort to take China from you, and some nuances of dispute on the other side of this commercial break. Please stay with us. We will soon have more questions for the Minister Lablank. We will see in a moment.
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Margaret Brainan: Welcome to face the nation. We return to our conversation for the Canadian Minister, Canadian-Canada Business, Dominic Labc. Minister, we were only talking about some sectoral tariffs, metals. American vehicle manufacturer, GM, Ford, Stalentis, has said that these tariffs are harming their profits. 50% of metal tariffs, which use Canadian aluminum, were talking about the Secretary of Treasury, who are seeing the effect here in the United States, in some ways a bit of a backfire. Do you see the place for maneuver on them? Are they ready to interact with you on those tariffs?
Min. Leblanc: Ms. Brainon, we hope. And, as I say, we are encouraged by conversation with Secretary Lootnik and Ambassador Greer, but we are not yet, where we need to go to get the deal that is in the best interest of two economies. But your example is a good. Canadian aluminum companies largely supply the US market. And by putting 50% tariff on aluminum from Canada, you have increased the price of a full range of goods. The automobile region, again, is an example where deep integration has occurred. We are the largest customers of automobiles created by us. Heavy, canada’s light and heavy imports into heavy duty trucks. 50% of cars that we finish in Canada and sell in the United States are made up of American parts. Therefore, it has an ideal example, where, instead of tariffs, or President Trump wants to have a strong domestic steel, aluminum automobile sector, under his Section 232, under Tariff. Well, it is Canada. And we fully understand and respect the President’s view in terms of national security interest. In fact, we share it, and what we have said to our American counterparts is how we can structure the correct agreement, where both of us can continue to supply each other in a reliable, cost -effective manner that protects the jobs required for the American economy, but the same thing is true, clearly in Canada.
Margaret Brainon: Does the two leaders have a plan to speak? I noticed that President Trump said that your Prime Minister called him on Thursday, and he never joined. I mean, is stress more? And given the changing justification for tariffs, do you really feel that you are interacting with the other side in good faith?
Min. Leblanc: Sure, we do. of course we do. As I say, the conversation has been informative, creative and cordial. I hope that the Prime Minister will interact with the President in the next days. This is certainly my plan, again with Secretary Lutnik, recognizing that we think there is an option to striking a deal that will bring some of these tariffs down, providing more certainty for investment. We, Ms. Brainon, in Canada, pass our version of a large, beautiful bill of the President. It is called the One Canadian Economy Act, which we think will unlock an investment of $ 500 billion in Canada for things like pipelines, port infrastructure, mines, which also provide big opportunities to all American businesses. Therefore, we think there is a great deal- a great deal to work together.
Margaret Brainon: All is well, Minister, we will see if you can get one. We will come back right.
