The American Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, criticized Canada’s trade strategy on Friday, stating: “They are incompetent.”
Mr. Lutnick was responding to an article in the Financial Post quoting former Canadian chief negotiator Steve Verheul, who claimed that time was on Canada’s side in trade negotiations, as pressure on the United States would only increase.
Mr. Lutnick stated that this was “the worst strategy” and that the United States was “the world’s top consumer.”
He continued by saying that Prime Minister Mark Carney “has a problem” with the United States and criticized his recent actions towards China.
Regarding Carney’s visit to China, Lutnick questioned whether China, being an export-driven economy, would buy Canadian products such as electric cars, calling the idea “completely crazy.”
U.S. Commerce Representative Jamieson Greer stated earlier in the month that he did not expect negotiations on the trade agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico to reach a conclusion before July 1st.
This is the deadline by which the U.S. must notify Canada and Mexico of its intentions regarding the trilateral trade pact known as ACEUM.
During questioning before the International Trade Committee of the House of Commons on Thursday, Canadian Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Dominic LeBlanc, affirmed that the Canadian government was ready to quickly sign an agreement that would serve the interests of the Canadian economy.
Yes, progress is being made. We are in contact, and it’s not just with Americans, but also with our friends in Mexico.
Mr. LeBlanc added, “I think we have a lot of things that the government and the American economy need. That’s why I remain optimistic that we will succeed.”
