(Video screengrab from CBSA-asfc.gc.ca)

Key round of NAFTA talks opens amid upbeat signs

Reading Time: 2 minutes Montreal | Reuters — Officials opened a key round of negotiations to modernize NAFTA on Tuesday amidst optimistic signs, as U.S. President Donald Trump said the talks were going “pretty well” and Canada’s chief negotiator said he had high hopes for progress. Trump’s remarks helped the Mexican peso stem its losses, a reflection of how […] Read more


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks Aug. 23, 2017 at a Montreal charity event. (PM.gc.ca)

Trudeau to boost support for NAFTA in U.S. as talks intensify

Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa | Reuters –– Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will visit three major U.S. cities next month to bolster support for NAFTA as negotiators revising the trade pact tackle major differences, officials said on Friday. The timing of Trudeau’s Feb. 7-10 trip is significant, since it comes after a sixth and penultimate round of talks […] Read more

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in August 2016. (PM.gc.ca)

Trudeau says will keep exploring trade deal with China

Reading Time: 2 minutes Beijing | Reuters — Canada will continue to explore a free trade agreement with China, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday, as it weighs its options after the U.S. threatened to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Speaking after a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Trudeau said if “done […] Read more


Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, shown here in April 2016. (Dave Bedard photo)

Farm fuel to be exempt from Manitoba carbon tax

Reading Time: 3 minutes Farm fuel will be exempt from a carbon tax, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said in an interview Thursday on the eve of announcing his government’s Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan. “It does exempt some farm costs — farm fuel, for example,” he said. “I know we’ll get pushback from some industry groups that are not […] Read more

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Oct. 3 in Ottawa. (PM.gc.ca)

Feds pledge lower small business tax rate

Reading Time: 3 minutes UPDATED, Oct. 16 — The federal government says it will cut the small business tax rate to nine per cent from 10.5, a move seen as an attempt to counter a growing backlash against its July tax reform announcement. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Bill Morneau appeared side-by-side in Toronto’s far suburbs to […] Read more


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a science fair at the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council in Ottawa on Sept. 26. (PM.gc.ca)

U.S. hikes NAFTA tension with call for ‘sunset clause’

Reading Time: 3 minutes Arlington, Va. | Reuters — Washington has dramatically increased tensions in talks to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement by proposing that the lifespan of any new deal be limited to five years, people familiar with the negotiations said on Thursday. The proposal for a so-called sunset clause — just one of a series […] Read more

(Video screengrab from CBSA-asfc.gc.ca)

Trump says U.S.-Canada trade deal possible, excluding Mexico

Reading Time: 3 minutes Washington | Reuters –– U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would be open to a bilateral trade pact with Canada if a deal cannot be reached with Mexico to substantially revise the North American Free Trade Agreement. Asked by a reporter if he could envision maintaining free trade with Canada if NAFTA talks […] Read more