Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to demonstrate strength in trade negotiations with the United States. Poilievre, along with Canada-U.S. relations critic Shuvaloy Majumdar, criticized Ottawa for making concessions to fulfill various demands from the U.S. in recent times.

Among the examples cited by Poilievre and Majumdar were the elimination of the digital service tax, the removal of Canada’s counter-tariffs, and the agreement to share net toll revenue from the Gordie Howe International Bridge with the U.S. They argued against Carney’s stance that no deal is preferable to a bad deal, pointing out job losses in Canadian cities reliant on cross-border supply chains.

Poilievre’s letter to Carney accused the government of continuously yielding to American demands without gaining any significant benefits in return, leading to detrimental consequences such as increased tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and lumber.

The Conservatives emphasized the need for a favorable agreement that includes zero tariffs on softwood lumber, the elimination of sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminum, a tariff-free auto pact, and complete exemption from Buy America regulations on infrastructure projects across all governmental levels.

As the U.S. prepares to impose new 50% tariffs on various Canadian goods on August 19, trade discussions between the two nations have intensified. The Conservatives reiterated their proposal to establish a strategic reserve of critical minerals to bolster Canada’s negotiating position, advocating for reciprocal tariff-free access to markets.

Despite Canada and Mexico expressing interest in extending the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) for another 16 years, the U.S. has opted for rolling annual reviews instead. Dairy Farmers of Canada have urged the government not to compromise on the supply management system that safeguards the Canadian dairy industry, highlighting previous concessions made by Canada and ongoing pressure for more.

According to industry sources, Canada is considering meeting certain U.S. demands, including lifting bans on American alcohol sales, in exchange for tariff relief. Additionally, discussions involve the potential removal of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. autos and adjustments in the dairy sector, with the aim of persuading the U.S. to rescind the new tariffs and sectoral tariffs on key industries.