Tariff-weary Canada takes cautious approach to trade talks after Democratic wave

Canadian officials woke up to a new political reality south of the border, just as U.S. trade talks start again. We obviously took note of the election results in the United States. We probably stayed up too late. But the Canada U.S. Trade Minister says Ottawa isn't making any assumptions and it's not changing its strategy. It's not up for Canadians to try and read into why particular American voters... It went in a particular direction. Not only the American people won but Canadians won across the board. Ontario's premier sees it differently. I was doing cartwheels down the street and you ever seen a big guy like me doing cartwheels? I was jumping up and down when the results were coming in. But the question now as negotiations resume did Tuesday's tough result for Donald Trump's Republicans strengthen Canada's hand? Nothing's going away, you know, immediately. On the other hand, there's absolutely some net positives here for Canada. Trump still holds considerable power to impose tariffs through executive orders. But Democrats say finding a way to lift them is a priority. That's one of the reasons we won Congress back, because we're going to put an end to these tariffs. Including plans to introduce a bill, even if it could be vetoed by the president. My view is that we focus on Concrete legislation that's beneficial to everybody. Democrats also won in key auto states like Michigan, as auto sector tariffs are expected to be a key sticking point in negotiations. It would be prudent for us not to go and... Sign something over the next few days. Let's see what the next week or so looks like. We have massive leverage in the form of the goodwill of the American people. Now the Carney government will have to decide. Accept a deal with some Trump tariffs and get relief faster. Or try to wait it out and see what happens when the Democrats take control of Congress. Kate McKenna, CBC News, Ottawa.