WASHINGTON — Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc says Canada and the U.S. are working toward reaching sector-specific trade deals on steel, aluminum and energy.
Speaking to reporters at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, where Prime Minister Mark Carney met with U.S. President Donald Trump today for private talks, LeBlanc said the talks were “more detailed” than previous discussions and the two sides talked about “quickly” landing deals for those sectors.
In a rambling press conference with Carney in the Oval Office earlier in the day, Trump mused about everything from his dislike of former U.S. President Joe Biden to his hatred of windmills — but only offered hints on trade.
Trump told reporters that Carney would walk away “very happy” from their working meetings but refused to explain what he meant.
Trump also said the U.S. could renew the trilateral North American free trade agreement. He suggested in the same breath that Canada and the U.S. could instead work out separate deals — and did not indicate a preference either way.
Carney did not make himself available to media and did not respond when reporters shouted questions at him as he left the White House.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 7, 2025.
Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press
