Canada Says Trade Deal With US 'At Any Cost' Is Not Its Goal

With less than a week left for Canada to reach a trade deal with US President Donald Trump or face additional tariffs, Prime Minister Mark Carney on July 22 downplayed the possibility of a breakthrough and suggested that Canada might walk away empty-handed.

- Ian Austen

HUNTSVILLE, Ontario — With less than a week left for Canada to reach a trade deal with US President Donald Trump or face additional tariffs, Prime Minister Mark Carney on July 22 downplayed the possibility of a breakthrough and suggested that Canada might walk away empty-handed.

He spoke after a meeting of Canada's 10 provinces and three territories convened in response to Mr. Trump's threat to impose 35 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports starting Aug. 1.

Asked about the likelihood of reaching a pact by that deadline, Mr. Carney said "we'll agree to a deal if there's one on the table that is in the best interest of Canadians," but then later added in French that "it's not our objective to have an agreement at any cost."