Ontario's representative in Washington, David Paterson, says US President Donald Trump's latest tariff threat shows that Canada's retaliatory trade actions are having an impact on the American economy. The Trump administration is threatening 50% tariffs on hundreds of Canadian goods, citing a 22% drop in US auto exports to Canada since April last year as evidence of Canada's retaliation. Paterson believes this shift in trade is being noticed and can be a "starting point" for productive trade talks currently underway. According to Prime Minister Mark Carney, he spoke with Trump last week and agreed to "intensify" trade talks.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, not to be confused with former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, says he doesn't see value in using Canadian energy exports as leverage in US trade talks. This comes as US President Donald Trump threatens further tariffs on Canadian goods, including a 50% tariff that will take effect on August 19th. The prime minister was asked if Canada would hold back oil exports to the US, but said his focus is on getting an agreement before the new tariffs kick in. When asked again about using Alberta oil as leverage, Carney suggested that being a reliable supplier is important. This move by Carney comes after US President Trump has repeatedly targeted Canada with trade threats and tariffs, including imposing 50% tariffs on Canadian goods worth $28 billion. Despite this, the representative of Ontario in Washington says that the US administration is taking notice of Canada's retaliatory measures, which include a 22% drop in US auto exports to Canada since April last year.
Written for “US Tariff Policy Dispute” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's framing suggests a sympathetic view of Canada's position, with phrases like 'ruffled feathers' and 'genuine frustration' used to describe the Trump administration's reaction. Additionally, Paterson's quotes emphasize Canada's legitimate economic concerns and express optimism for productive trade talks.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.55 for article 123 · logged 2026-07-31
Trump's new tariff threat shows Canada's retaliation 'being noticed':
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retaliation → show → ?
Trade representative in Washington says talks have picked up in past week
The Ontario government's representative in Washington says U.S. President Donald Trump's latest threat to levy 50 per cent tariffs on hundreds of Canadian goods is an indication that the administration is taking notice of the effect Canada's retaliatory trade action is having on the American economy.
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action → say → economy
Speaking to CBC's Power & Politics, David Paterson pointed to a specific complaint laid out in the fact sheet announcing the tariffs: U.S. auto exports to Canada dropping 22 per cent since April of last year.
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exports → speak → year
"That is an enormous shift of trade away from jobs in the United States to other places and that is part of the federal government's retaliation," Paterson told guest host Peter Armstrong.
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Paterson → tell → Armstrong
"These things are now being noticed and to me that's a starting point for a good discussion as they go forward."
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they → notice → discussion
Canada still has retaliatory tariffs on U.S. cars, auto parts, steel and aluminum despite lifting a swath of other levies last summer.
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Canada → have → levies
The Trump administration also listed provincial bans on U.S. booze as a reason for the promised 50 per cent levies, which are slated to come into force on Aug. 19.
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which → list → Aug.
U.S. spirit makers have said the ban has been "devastating" to their sales, while American wine sales in Canada plummeted $343 million US in 2025.
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sales → say → 2025
Paterson said while Canada's retaliation has ruffled feathers in the Trump administration to the point that new tariffs are looming, it can be a "starting point" for productive trade talks currently underway.
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it → say → talks
"It's actually a genuine frustration on the part of [U.S. Trade Representative] Jamieson Greer and others and this is an opportunity to actually say, 'OK, well could we be partners?'" Paterson said.
uncertain
Paterson → say → Greer
Prime Minister Mark Carney said he spoke with Trump last week after the latest tariff move was announced and said that the two leaders agreed to "intensify" trade talks.
What tariffs are still in place? Tracking the Canada-U.S. trade war
Carney says he doesn't 'see the value' in using energy as leverage in U.S. trade talks
Paterson said he's noticed things pick up in Washington since then.
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things → say → Washington
Carney met with the premiers last week to talk about the 50 per cent tariff threat and discuss possible ways to respond.
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Carney → meet → ways
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the prime minister said while the government is preparing for ways to respond if the tariffs come into force, he's focused on "building towards an agreement" before Aug. 19.
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he → speak → Aug.
Paterson echoed Carney's argument.
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Paterson → echo → argument
"We're now in a position where, in the most friendly nations on earth, we have the opportunity to try and calm this down," he said.
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he → have → this
Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, was in Washington this week and met with Greer on Wednesday.
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LeBlanc → meet → Wednesday
LeBlanc posted on social media that the meeting was "comprehensive" and the two "agreed to remain in close contact and continue working together."
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two → post → contact
On Tuesday, two major unions wrote to Greer calling on the administration to hold off on the 50 per cent levies.
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unions → write → levies
The international heads of the United Steelworkers and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers wrote that the Canada-U.S. trade relationship has been "marked by division" over the past year.
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relationship → write → year
"Our priority must be to align our trade policies to address the challenges posed by unfair and predatory trade practices of countries like China, not to drive a further wedge between our nations," the letter reads.
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letter → align → nations
