Forget securing a Canada-U.S. trade deal before midterms: sources

At Donald Trump's campaign rallies, it's routine for the U.S. president to take aim at Canada. They have been screwing us, really, and they're not doing it anymore. He exaggerates the trade deficit, cracks jokes about the 51st state. Other times, he muses about making a trade agreement. We're making, at some point, we're making a deal that's going to be amazing. A new pact isn't happening anytime soon. Sources tell CBC News over the past few weeks, Canadian officials have been quietly telling industry leaders there will be no deal before the midterm elections. I wouldn't say that Canada missed an opportunity in the sense that we've been clear we're not going to accept any deal or rush to an artificial deadline. After the midterms, when Trump isn't preoccupied with the vote, Canada does have urgent reason to get the talks back on track. We have a threat against us from the president of new auto tariffs on January 1st. And that means the Canadian side will be incentivized to try to see if there's some sort of agreement to be had. Trump posted this in August. January 1st, 2027, tariffs on all cars, trucks, both large and small, automotive parts and steel will be increased to 50%. If they tariff auto parts from Canada, they shut down the entire American automotive manufacturing structure simply because those parts will not get delivered. He just might be willing to sink Detroit in trying to prove some point that nobody can understand. At this point, Ottawa isn't sure if Trump's threat is real. There has been no specific executive order that would enact that sort of posting that he made on social media. But there's no doubt that that is obviously of concern to us. There could be some tariff relief on the horizon. A new lawsuit launched by the American Advocacy Group that successfully overturned some Trump tariffs at the Supreme Court. it is now suing the administration, trying to kill the 50% tariffs on dairy, hockey sticks and other Canadian goods. Katie Simpson, CBC News, Washington.