Deal's finalization depends on Trump's approval
The outcome of ongoing economic and security discussions between the United States and Canada remains unclear as officials on both sides navigate a politically fluid environment and a leadership approach in Washington that has made timelines difficult to establish, according to sources cited by CTV News.
Over the past several weeks, negotiators have exchanged draft documents outlining a potential bilateral agreement.
A senior Canadian government source, speaking on background, confirmed to CTV News that documents have moved between both sides but declined to disclose their content, calling it part of standard negotiation procedures.
Sources familiar with the matter said that the deal’s finalization ultimately depends on the approval of US president Donald Trump. There is no confirmed timeline for when that decision could be made.
The talks follow months of strained trade relations, which began in February when the US imposed tariffs on Canadian goods. In response, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney declared that the traditional Canada-US relationship was “over,” while maintaining that a new economic and security framework could still be developed.
Industry minister Melanie Joly confirmed that Carney and Trump have recently engaged in direct conversations. However, summaries of those discussions have not been publicly released.
On Wednesday, finance minister François-Philippe Champagne described the discussions as “very dynamic” and told reporters he would defer to Carney and the trade ministry for further comment. Champagne added that Canadian officials remain aligned in representing domestic industry concerns and making the implications of the tariffs clear across the border.
In Ottawa, US ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said at a Canadian Club event that an agreement remains possible, but acknowledged that details will not be known until a deal is officially concluded. “There’s also the possibility you could end up with something like no deal,” he said.
Former US national security advisor John Bolton said talk of an imminent agreement may be premature. He noted that while Trump may seek to announce a resolution, the substance of any final arrangement remains uncertain.
Bolton also commented on Carney’s announcement that Canada would meet NATO’s defence spending target of 2% of GDP this year, calling the issue longstanding among US policymakers.
