Canada has welcomed the United States’ decision to withdraw its objections to measures protecting the French language and Canadian culture, describing the move as a positive development in ongoing trade tensions.
Canada’s minister responsible for US-Canada trade, Dominic LeBlanc, said Ottawa was encouraged by Washington’s revised position on issues including the online visibility and labelling of French-language content.
He said Canada was awaiting further clarification from the US on other outstanding trade issues, which could pave the way for negotiations to resume.
The development comes after Canada announced retaliatory tariffs ranging from 15 to 50 percent on selected US goods, scheduled to take effect on September 8. The measures broadly mirror the 50 percent tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on about $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods.
Trade negotiations broke down last week after Canada accused US negotiators of seeking restrictions on its trade agreements with other countries.
Meanwhile, Canada has exempted fish and other seafood products from the planned retaliatory tariffs following consultations with affected industries.
The exemption was announced as Ottawa reviewed the potential impact of the measures on Canadian businesses and consumers.
The escalating tariff dispute has heightened concerns about the economic consequences for both countries, with industries on both sides of the border facing increased costs and uncertainty.
