Carney, Trump to be given 'options' following latest trade talks, says U.S. rep

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said both U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney will now be given "options" following trade talks between Canadian and U.S. trade officials on Thursday.

"The president, the prime minister, obviously they'll be given options and discussions," Greer said, in what is the clearest indication yet about how the negotiations are going from the Trump administration's perspective.

Greer, who spoke to CBC News exclusively following the talks, called the meetings "good" and "cordial."

"We are going to speak with the president. I believe Canadian officials will speak with the prime minister," Greer added in French.

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Following the meeting, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters he would "continue to do the work Canadians expect us to do."

LeBlanc didn't give a timeline as to how many more meetings there would be with Greer, adding "we'll have as many meetings as it takes."

CBC News has also learned that LeBlanc will brief the federal government's Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations on Friday afternoon to update them on how the negotiations are going, according to two sources with knowledge of tomorrow's meeting.

The committee serves as a forum where members can develop strategy for how Canada should approach its economic relationship with the U.S.

LeBlanc will also brief provinces on Friday, according to Louise Blais, Quebec's envoy for the review of the CUSMA, who shared the details during an interview with Radio-Canada.

Both LeBlanc and chief trade negotiator Janice Charette met with Greer this afternoon. It was the second meeting this week between the Canadian and American trade officials, and the fourth in just three weeks. 

The two sides have ramped up discussions since Trump threatened to impose 50 per cent duties on hundreds of Canadian goods, on top of sectoral tariffs already in place. Those tariffs are slated to come into effect Aug. 19.

Following this afternoon's meeting, Charette returned to the U.S. Trade Representative office to continue discussions with her counterpart late into the evening, a source told CBC News.

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As previously reported, sources on both sides of the border say the Americans offered a new proposal on Tuesday which would lower some of the sectoral tariffs but not to the degree that the Canadian side would like to see.

The Americans are also seeking a deal that would see preferential access to Canadian critical minerals and which covers security and energy, the sources said.

CBC News previously reported LeBlanc and Greer are aiming to present Trump with a path to a potential trade deal as early as Monday.

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However, sources also told CBC News last week that the Canadian side has aggressively argued to the Americans that there would be no political appetite among Canadians to keep talks going if the Aug. 19 tariffs come into place.

Those tariffs, according to the U.S. government, are due to a number of trade irritants, including Canada's retaliation against U.S. trade policy with the removal of U.S. alcohol from provincial store shelves and alleged discrimination against U.S. motor vehicles and dairy.

The Canadian side is willing to offer movement on some of those concerns, according to industry sources with knowledge of the situation. In addition to ending the booze bans, Canada is also considering lifting retaliatory tariffs on U.S. autos and making some changes on dairy.

Ford open to putting U.S. booze back on shelves

Also Thursday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford — a frequent critic of Trump — said he'd be "more than happy" to bring U.S. booze back onto his province's shelves if a fair deal is reached that protects Ontario's steel, auto, forestry, agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

Ford also said his message to Americans is "a tariff on Canada is a tax on the American people."

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"Remember when it comes to the [U.S.] midterms, you have to get that bully and send him a message," Ford said.

The Ontario premier's comments on U.S. alcohol bans echo those from Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette's office, who said in a statement last week the removal of U.S. alcohol from Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) outlets will remain in effect "until an agreement that we deem fair has been negotiated."

"The sale of alcohol falls exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Quebec government. Quebec, and Quebec alone, will make that decision," the statement says.