The nearly year-long tariff war between Canada and the U.S. is almost over.
The Canadian government released a statement Friday saying the two sides have agreed to eliminate the tariffs within two days.
The deal applies to the tariffs the U.S. imposed last June by citing national security — 25 per cent on imports of steel and 10 per cent on aluminum — as well as Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on steel, aluminum and as other consumer products.
Canada has long argued the tariffs are illegal. As part of the deal, the Trudeau government has agreed to end its legal case against the U.S at the World Trade Organization on the section 232 tariffs.
The deal also includes a monitoring system to watch out for any potential surges in the metals markets.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump earlier today, their third conversation this week.The Prime Minister’s Office said the pair discussed the steel tariff issue.
Trudeau and other members of his cabinet are meeting with steel workers at the Stelco plant in Hamilton, Ont. this afternoon. CBCnews.ca will carry it live.
The tariffs have disrupted supply chains and added extra costs for consumers and businesses across a wide range of industries on both sides of the border, and were becoming a barrier to ratifying the new North American free trade pact.
The Canadian side had openly toyed with the idea of delaying Canada’s ratification until after the U.S. lifted the controversial tariffs.
“We think it’s a great victory for Canada, for the industry and the North American industry as a whole,” said Jean Simard, spokesperson for the Aluminum Association of Canada.
“It’s everything we’ve always asked for.”
Friday’s announcement followed a week of intensified pressure.
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland was in Washington, D.C., earlier this week to sit down with her American counterpart and held a series of meetings with members of Congress.
Her trip followed on two phone conversations Prime Minister Trudeau had with President Trump within the past week, during which he asked for an end to U.S. steel tariffs and additional diplomatic assistance with Canada’s ongoing dispute with China.
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