Talks between Canadian and American officials remained at an impasse Sunday, with Ottawa saying that there have been no formal meetings to avert the imposition of fresh retaliatory tariffs.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has pledged to impose levies on $28-billion worth of U.S. imports effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. The policy will hit a range of products from steel and aluminum to textiles, stoves and hundreds of other goods.
The planned tariffs are a response to new 50-per-cent levies that President Donald Trump imposed on Canada after Mr. Carney withdrew from trade talks on Aug. 21.
In the lead-up to those U.S. tariffs, Canadian and U.S. officials held near-daily meetings as they tried to strike a deal to avert the levies and reduce others that the White House had previously imposed. This time though, there has been no last-minute rush to avoid additional economic pain from the new Canadian tariffs.
Instead, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is spending the Labour Day weekend back in his home province of New Brunswick, a federal official said. Mr. LeBlanc, the official said, has had no formal talks with his U.S. counterparts this weekend and none are scheduled.
Six charts that explain Canada’s incoming countertariffs on U.S. goods
The official said that the last time any formal talks took place was Aug. 21 – the day the negotiations in Washington fell apart.
Similarly, Canada’s top trade negotiator, Janice Charette, has had no formal talks with her American counterparts and none are planned, a second official said.
The Globe and Mail is not identifying the officials, who were not authorized to release the information.
Mr. Carney’s office said the Prime Minister has not spoken with the President since the week formal trade talks ended.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne’s office said Canada’s plan for countertariffs remains whole and they will come into effect as planned on Tuesday.
The new tariffs are aimed at shoring up the domestic market for Canadian companies hit by U.S. tariffs while also ramping up political pressure south of the border.
U.S. businesses think looming countertariffs will inflict pain, but not misery
But the tariffs can also hurt Canadian businesses that rely on imported material and products from the U.S.
Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, an industry group representing manufacturers of all sizes, has repeatedly warned that countertariffs will increase costs for businesses reliant on American inputs, particularly smaller manufacturers with little ability to quickly change their supply chains.
The association has called for the federal government to continue providing tariff remission for companies that cannot competitively source other input alternatives.
“The ultimate objective must remain the removal of U.S. tariffs and a durable agreement that restores certainty for manufacturers and workers on both sides of the border,” said Dennis Darby, president and CEO of CME, last week.
The Trump administration has already pledged to retaliate if Canada goes ahead with its countertariff response.
On Friday, The Globe reported that White House officials are hoping to hit back against Canada’s retaliation no later than Wednesday. The Trump administration is considering banning imports of Canadian alcohol, dairy products, and possibly steel, The Globe reported based on a source.
Here’s how Canada’s countertariffs could hit your wallet
Debate continues within the Trump administration on how tough the measures should be, with some in the President’s orbit calling for even more punitive actions. What those would consist of remained unclear.
Late last week, Mr. Trump suggested in a social-media post that the trade war between the two countries would lead to Canada’s economic collapse. The ramifications will be “worse than anything that has ever happened to a Canadian Politician. Just watch!” he threatened.
Over the weekend, Mr. Trump and his officials continued to attack and deride Canada. The President’s social-media page again posted about the renaming of Lake Ontario to Lake America and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent compared Canada to a “yippy dog.”
He argued that Canada’s countertariffs will have a negligible effect on U.S. prices.
“It is not much of a hit to us, if any,” he told Fox News.
In the past few weeks, the Prime Minister has repeatedly said Canada will only return to the negotiating table when the U.S. changes its attitude.
“When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about having those discussions, we can have those discussions,” Mr. Carney said on Sept. 1.
Canada won’t return to negotiating table until U.S. changes its attitude, Carney says
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters last week that he was confident the trade war would ultimately end with a negotiated deal.
“That’s where this is going to wind up – the sooner, the better,” Mr. Johnson said.
Canada’s retaliatory tariffs are increasing political pressure on Republicans by targeting industries in states that are vulnerable in this fall’s midterm elections.
For example, the state likely to suffer the single biggest hit from Canada’s tariffs is Republican-run Ohio, where Democratic candidates are mounting competitive gubernatorial and senate campaigns.
Canadian unions, in particular, have been vocal supporters of Mr. Carney’s tariff countermeasures, saying that Canada should fight back against Mr. Trump’s tariffs, which are designed to target Canada’s industrial base, and force concessions.
“The Canadian countertariffs are a good first response, but we need to take action at home to keep workers on the job by fast-tracking procurement dollars, implementing national industrial strategies, and calling on corporate Canada to step up and Buy Canadian,” said Lana Payne, Unifor’s national president, in a statement on Aug. 25.

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says the province is mourning a Cape Breton Island woman who died during widespread flooding across the region caused by torrential rain.
RCMP say the body of a 46-year-old woman from Cleveland, N.S., was recovered Saturday afternoon after she was reported missing earlier that day.
The Mounties say their Richmond County office received a report the woman was missing after her vehicle was found parked near her residence on the far side of a flooded bridge.
Police, volunteers and local fire services started searching for the woman, and her body was later recovered in the area at about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to a news release.
RCMP said Sunday the death is not believed to be suspicious. A spokesperson for Nova Scotia RCMP added they would not provide any more information.
Cape Breton Island and parts of the northeast mainland have been battered by rainfall over the weekend due to a slow-moving weather system.
More than 200 millimetres of rain have fallen on some areas of the Island, leading to flooding that destroyed roads, culverts, barriers and bridges.
At one point on Saturday, tens of thousands of people were without electricity, according to Nova Scotia Power’s outage map. By Sunday evening, less than 200 customers were impacted.
However, Nova Scotia’s Department of Emergency Management said Sunday morning that roads across the region continued to be affected by flooding.
A local state of emergency also remained in place Sunday for Inverness, Richmond and Victoria counties due to severe flooding and widespread damage.
Meanwhile, Environment and Climate Change Canada lifted its weather alerts for Nova Scotia on Sunday. It issued a special weather statement for parts of northern Newfoundland, warning of heavy rain.
Houston on Sunday repeated a request by officials that people in the affected areas avoid unnecessary travel.
“Stay off the roads while the weather is bad. Your safety is our priority,” he said in a statement.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called on the federal government on Sunday to assist Nova Scotia and its municipalities “with any resources they need to protect people and communities.”
Federal Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski said Sunday afternoon that she is in contact with her Nova Scotia counterpart, Kim Masland.
“Our government is monitoring the situation closely and stands ready to provide support to Nova Scotia and local authorities leading the response on the ground,” Olszewski said in a statement.
Olszewski added she is deeply saddened by the Cape Breton woman’s death during the intense storm and that she extends her condolences to the woman’s family, loved ones and community.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a social media post on Saturday night that his thoughts were with everyone in eastern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island affected by the rain and flooding.
“Thank you to the first responders who are working around the clock to keep people safe,” Carney said.
“Our government is in close communication with the provincial government and remains ready to provide any support needed.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 6, 2026.
Eli Ridder, The Canadian Press

LAS VEGAS, NV (AP) — Josh Loewen saw appeals from American tourism groups everywhere he looked in the past year. The love of Canada was proclaimed on billboards, banners, and other advertising. Special deals were advertised on social media and online for travellers from the north.
Loewen, a Vancouver-based marketing executive and Vancouver resident himself understands these conciliatory gestures. After President Donald Trump’s return to office and his remarks that Canada would become the 51st State, the number of Canadians who traveled to the United States plummeted. A bitter trade war is now threatening to intensify the boycott, just when it seemed to be lessening.
Loewen said, “It is a huge ask at this time,” of U.S. Tourism industry attempts to lure Canadians back like himself before a newly elected president takes over the White House. It’s a waste of time.
The U.S.-Canadian relationship has deteriorated dramatically since the collapse of their trade talks last month. Trump levied import taxes up to 50 percent on Canadian goods. Canada responded by imposing its own import taxes. Mark Carney, Canadian prime minister, dismissed the insults of Trump’s cabinet members as being childish and unworthy.
The rift between the two countries hasn’t stopped tourism officials in states and locale, as well as popular tourist destinations such Graceland, from trying to convince Canadians to visit again.
This summer, New York State launched the “NY Loves Canada”, a promotion that offered discounts on hotels, attractions, and restaurants. To give Canadians more for their money, some downtown Las Vegas hoteliers treat the Canadian dollar the same as the U.S. Dollar. Last month, Las Vegas tourism officials visited Canada to meet travel agents, tour operators and airlines.
Steve Hill, President of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said in Vancouver, “We are here to let you know we care about Canada.”
National outreach also takes place. Brand USA, the U.S. Tourism Industry’s Marketing Organization, will bring its Travel Week Trade-Event Series to Canada in October. This program, previously known as Canada Connect, has been expanded and rebranded.
The number of Canadians traveling to the U.S. remains below levels projected for 2024
Canada has traditionally been the country that sends more international overnight visitors to America than any other. In the wake of last year’s backlash from consumers, same-day travel and extended stays both dropped. Statistics Canada, Canada’s statistical agency, reports that Canadians will spend $2.4 billion less (CA$3.3billion) on U.S. travel in 2025 compared to last year.
This decline coincided with several other factors, such as a lower Canadian dollar which made travel to the U.S. costlier and an increase in airfares and hotel prices. Statistics Canada shows that Canadian air travel began to decline in the U.S. as early as September 2023.
The abrupt decline in travel to the United States that began with Trump’s second term and continued into the current year was a sign of “a shift in Canadians’ travel preference away from America,” according to a report by the agency in July.
The agency noted that there were some signs of progress in the border crossings between May and July. In the last two months, the World Cup 2026, cohosted by the U.S. Canada, and Mexico, coincided. Canada’s soccer national team played in the early tournament weeks. This gave some Canadians an excuse to travel south. Carney and Trump attended the New Jersey final game.
Statista Canada reported that the majority of cross-border travel was by automobile, and air travel into the U.S. had declined from the previous year’s levels every month up until June. According to the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office, Canadians will make fewer overnight trips in 2026 than during the previous six-month period. Overnight visits are typically associated with higher tourism expenditures.
The sentiment of Canadians can be gauged by the snowbirds
Trump announced on the day following World Cup’s end that tariffs of $20 billion in Canadian goods will take effect within 30 days. White House officials said that the tariffs are intended to respond to U.S. complaints about Canadian barriers against American automobiles, dairy and alcohol.
Deborah Friedland is a consultant for Eisner Advisory Group, a financial services company. She said: “You’ve gone from this high-profile, international moment of excitement to a negative one the following week.” It’s a case of one step forward, and then two back.
As the summer winds down, many of the U.S. tourist destinations that depend most on Canadians are entering their busiest season. When temperatures at home drop, many Canadians flock to warmer climates in Florida, Arizona, and California. The coming months will test whether or not the boycott extends into the next winter.
Friedland stated, “I would be surprised to see a huge increase in Canadian winter travel a year down the road.”
Some tourism officials do not seem to be concerned. Jennifer Adams, the tourism director of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach region in Florida’s Panhandle said that she was never worried when the headlines last year about Canadians refusing to travel to the U.S. appeared.
She said that “I thought our message was very strong” and that “we want to make sure that the Canadian families know they are welcome here, that we will give them an amazing experience once they arrive.”
According to Visit Florida, the state’s marketing agency, Florida has seen a decline of 7% in Canadian tourists in 2025 as compared with last year. Visit California’s sister organization, using data from the global consulting and research company Tourism Economics to estimate that Canadian visits to California fell by 20%, quoted information provided by Visit California.
Some Canadians aren’t satisfied with a vacation promise.
Loewen said that his wife and two children, a Vancouver-based marketing executive, loved to visit the United States. His wife, two kids and he often travel to San Diego and Portland. They chose Mexico this year instead.
Loewen explained that the reluctance has nothing to do with how well-suited America is for a vacation. The question is whether Canadians are willing to spend money in the U.S. while tensions remain high between Canada and the U.S. Loewen stated that his family had not visited the U.S. after Trump’s election and does not plan to do so until a new President is elected.
Eileen March is a Calgary-based life coach who said that she also made the same decision. Trump’s threat to make Canada into the 51st State and his trade policy were both factors, according to March.
She said that as time went on she began to doubt herself. Her initial decision not to travel to the U.S. during his tenure was “confirmed” by the latest tariffs. She will no longer book flights that include layovers.
The 41-year-old March knows four years away is a very long time. She’s prepared to stay even longer.
She said, “It will depend on the next elected leader and their values as well as how they treat Canada.”
Rio Yamat The Associated Press

Michael Harrington, an Ottawa-based artist, was to exhibit his works at Ellen Miller Gallery Boston in November.
All that changed when I had a chat with a Montreal colleague.
Harrington said on CBC Radio All In A Day that Harrington was frustrated by the fact she had been trying to sell a $10,000 painting to a client in Illinois.
The deal failed because this tariff of 50% was possible. The painting’s price would have gone up from $10,000 to $15,000. No one will pay this amount of tax.
Harrington’s works can be found at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston, Ont.; the Canada Council Art Bank and many corporate and private collections throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
Harrington began his research when he learned that a new show was coming south of the border and tariffs were looming.
The art dealer he called in Boston was also contacted.
She asked, “Who has to pay this tariff? Me or you?” Harrington remembered that she had said “you” when asked.
He told her that he had explained to the woman that the tariff will apply not only when the art is sold, but also as soon as it crosses the border. He said that if she wanted to put the artwork in a gallery, it would require her paying 50% of the price upfront.
He said, “I would not expect her to make that decision… It’s too expensive and cumbersome.” We decided to postpone the event until these issues are resolved.
Advocacy group: Federal government must act.
CARFAC National is a Canadian non-profit organization that advocates for artists. According to them, art accounts for about 5 percent of Canada’s exports annually to the U.S.
CARFAC National warns that tariffs could lead to fewer exhibitions being cancelled, less sales and reduced international opportunities.
In a media release, Jenna Faye Powell, the interim national executive director of the group wrote: “Unlike corporations and large companies that have financial resources for absorbing new tariffs associated costs,”
This isn’t a simple economic problem. “The arts are vital to Canadian culture and the society.”
CARFAC called for the government to step in and support the artists during the current trade dispute.
Harrington suggested that one idea would be to forego the HST when purchasing art. Harrington said that he contacted the office of Prime Minister Mark Carney and received a response saying his concerns would be forwarded to both the finance minister and trade minister.
He said, “I am happy that at least this initiative was taken.” I know that they are busy.

Canada and the U.S. do not plan to resume their trade negotiations before Ottawa’s tariffs come into effect Tuesday. This move is likely to prompt Washington to impose even higher tariffs and intensify President Donald Trump’s trade war on the continent.
A Canadian official informed The Globe and Mail Friday there were no scheduled negotiations for Labour Day weekend. Dominic LeBlanc delivered the same message to business leaders in an afternoon briefing on Friday, two people familiar with the conversation said.
The Globe does not name the official of the government because he or she was not authorized by the authorities to be named, and neither do the two other sources who were also not allowed to discuss publicly the negotiation.
Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada announced new taxes last week. The date for implementation is set at September 8. The new levies will be applied to $28 billion worth of U.S. imported goods, including steel, aluminum, textiles, dairy, stoves, and many other items.
Countertariffs in Canada could affect your pocketbook
Ottawa has responded to the latest tariffs of 50 percent imposed by Mr. Trump on Canadian products worth $28 billion, which were imposed in late November after failed trade negotiations. Since last year, the President has also levied tariffs against Canada on steel, aluminum and autos.
The Trump administration warned that if Canada proceeds with their tariffs on Monday, it will be retaliated against by the U.S.
A source familiar with White House conversations said that officials hope to respond by Wednesday against Canada’s response. Source: The Trump administration may ban imports of Canadian dairy products, alcohol and steel.
Source: Some people in the orbit of Mr. Trump are calling for tougher measures. It is not clear what they would be.
The Globe does not identify the source, as they are not allowed to discuss publicly the Trump Administration’s strategy.
In an Oval Office photograph, President Obama threatened to “save money” by stopping all commerce with Canada, Mexico and the European Union. The President threatened to stop all trade with Canada, Mexico, the European Union and Switzerland during a photo-op in his Oval Office on Friday, claiming that such a move would “save” money for the United States.
The only thing we need to do in order to reduce our deficit is to stop trading with that country. Canada is an example. “If we stopped all trading with Canada and didn’t trade at all with Canada we would save ourselves $90-billion,” said Mr. Trump. Canada would be in serious trouble. They wouldn’t exist, I think. They do 95 percent of their business through us.”
Last year, the U.S. trade deficit with Canada was US$48 billion. This is largely because American consumers depend heavily on Canadian gas and oil, which are particularly valuable commodities at a moment when the Middle East’s petroleum supply has been cut off by Mr. Trump’s war against Iran. Around 66 percent of Canada’s total exports are sent to the U.S.
U.S. companies believe that looming antitariffs may cause pain but not misery
Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative, said that since August 21, he has been in contact with Canadian officials. He said Ottawa must restart the negotiations.
Greer said to Fox News that he had received a few texts from the group and had been contacted by them, but negotiations have not taken place since. It’s in Canada’s favor. “We offered the best deal. They looked it straight in the eye and then turned around.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters he is confident that the trade dispute will end in a deal. The sooner this ends, the better.
Brian Clow was the former Canada-U.S. Relations adviser for Justin Trudeau. He said that the tariffs could help Washington reach a compromise as the economy of key areas in the United States is suffering.
Ohio is a Republican state, but Democratic candidates in the November midterms are running competitive campaigns for gubernatorial, senate and other offices.
In an interview, Mr. Clow stated that Canada is encouraging the U.S.to lower their temperature and reduce tariffs to bring the two parties back together.
Meet the businesses affected by the Trade War, from flower growers to cheese makers.
Mr. Clow remembered that during Mr. Trump’s first term the President made an “aggressive” effort to discourage Mr. Trudeau’s retaliatory duties against U.S. Steel and Aluminum levies in a phone call with Mr. Trudeau on June 18, 2018. Ottawa imposed the tariffs despite this – as well as public insults by Washington including trade advisor Peter Navarro who claimed that Mr. Trudeau had a special place in Hell.
The countries managed to come up with a deal despite a freeze of negotiations lasting several weeks.
Clow explained that there were heated telephone calls and insults. But, ultimately, the two sides returned to the table in August for negotiations, and a contract was reached by September. No matter how heated things are right now, the parties have a history of coming back together.
The divide between Canadians, Americans and other nationalities is evident at the Korean War Memorial in Washington.
Canada and the U.S. have reached an agreement on a possible trade deal. The Globe reported that Mr. Carney agreed to make a number of concessions to trade and accept Mr. Trump’s tariffs if he would lower them and refrain from imposing any new levies.
When it was time to close the deal, Mr. Carney told the Canadian negotiators they had less than one hour to leave the table.
According to Prime Minister Harper, the U.S. made a series of changes at the last minute that were detrimental for Canada. Greer accused Canada of requesting more tariff relief even after the agreement was made.