Jan 10 2019 — Katie Simpson — CBC — The prime minister’s inner circle is ramping up another lobbying push in Washington to terminate American tariffs on steel and aluminum. Two senior government sources say that ministers with connections to American national security portfolios will be tasked with reaching out to specific U.S. officials to push Canada’s anti-tariff message. The campaign is based on […]
Dec 11 2018 — Katie Simpson — CBC — Donald Trump’s top representative in Canada is denying Chinese claims of a political motive behind the arrest in Canada of a key executive with the Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei. U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft said the claim circulating in Chinese state media that Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou’s arrest in Canada was politically engineered to punish Chinese […]
Dec 4 2018 — Katie Simpson — CBC — It’s a political long-shot, but opposition parties are teaming up to find out more about what Ottawa is doing to get the Trump administration to lift its tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. Conservative and New Democrat MPs are calling for an emergency meeting of the Standing Committee on International Trade to consider a motion […]
Dec 2 2018 — Katie Simpson — Any relief Canadian officials felt over Friday’s signing of NAFTA may fade away, as U.S. President Donald Trump announced he’s taking a risky all-or-nothing approach to getting the new trade pact ratified by Congress. As he left the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Trump told reporters on board Air Force One that he plans to […]
Nov 29 2018 — Katie Simpson — CBC — Officials don’t know yet who will sign the pact. And they haven’t said exactly when, or where, it’s going to happen. But when the G20 summit in Buenos Aires is over, the leaders of Canada, the United States and Mexico are supposed to be coming home with a newly signed trade agreement.
Nov 7 2018 — Katie Simpson — CBC — The official celebration of the new USMCA trade agreement may end up being a far more low-key affair than anyone imagined. Canada’s ambassador in Washington says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will not be taking part in any sort of signing ceremony alongside U.S. President Donald Trump — not unless American tariffs on steel and aluminum […]
Oct 31 2018 — Katie Simpson — CBC — Quebec NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice also praises efforts toward reaching ‘the best deal possible.’ Overlooking Parliament Hill, in one of the National Arts Centre’s newly renovated party rooms, drinks flowed through a crowd bursting with happy hugs and handshakes. Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union, invited politicians, trade negotiators, political staff, and journalists, to a mix-and-mingle […]
Oct 19 2018 — Katie Simpson — CBC — A prominent Canadian steel executive told MPs this week that Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland’s “ego” is getting in the way of ending American tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. Barry Zekelman, the chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries, delivered a scathing assessment Thursday of how the Liberal government is handling the tariff fight with […]
Oct 10 2018 — Katie Simpson — CBC — Inside an upscale semi-detached home, in the heart of one of Toronto’s most desirable neighbourhoods, two unlikely friends sat down for dinner. After thirteen months of bitter trade talks, complete with shouting outbursts and blunt exchanges, Canada’s foreign affairs minister invited her U.S. counterpart to a celebratory meal at her home on Tuesday evening. Chrystia […]
Sep 20 2018 — Katie Simpson — CBC — The window for Canada and the U.S. to land a NAFTA breakthrough this week is getting smaller, as officials sit down in Washington, D.C., today for what are expected to be the final high-level meetings this week. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is leading the Canadian delegation, is supposed to be unavailable Friday for […]
Sep 17 2018 — Katie Simpson — CBC — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is about to become the target of sharp criticism at home over his government’s handling of NAFTA negotiations. The Conservatives say they are “frustrated” with the way the Liberals have managed the talks to date and will be more vocal in highlighting their concerns going forward. “You’re going to hear the […]
Sep 14 2018 — Katie Simpson — CBC — In the face of mounting pressure to wrap up NAFTA negotiations by the end of the month, a senior source suggests Canada is comfortable with missing that deadline. The source who spoke to CBC News on background, due to the sensitivity of the talks, said the external political pressure “is not a good enough reason,” […]
Aug 10 2018 — Katie Simpson — CBC — One week into the Canada-Saudi Arabia spat, and there has been very little high-profile public support for the Canadian position. Spokespeople from countries considered Canada’s closest allies offered bluntly neutral comments when pressed on the diplomatic dispute.
Aug 7 2018 — Katie Simpson — CBC — Canada’s ambassador to Washington will be in Ottawa Wednesday for a series of high level discussions with Canadian officials to prepare for the resumption of NAFTA negotiations. David MacNaughton is expected to sit down with members of the Prime Minister’s Office — including Chief of Staff Katie Telford — and trade officials to discuss strategy […]
Jul 10 2018 — Katie Simpson — CBC — China is keen to launch formal free trade talks with Canada, but its envoy to Ottawa suggests that Canada’s own allies could be souring the relationship. During an hour-long interview with CBC News conducted Monday through an independent Mandarin translator, China’s ambassador to Canada accused the United States and Australia of smearing China’s reputation. “I […]