United States · Economy / Canada trade ·
US says there is 'no urgency' for Canada trade deal as new bans and 50% tariff threat advance
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on September 25 that Washington was comfortable with the current trade standoff and felt 'no urgency' to reach a deal with Canada. New US import bans on several Canadian products take effect next week, while Washington is threatening 50% tariffs on Canadian autos, parts and steel from January.
Why it matters
The official statement lowers expectations of a near-term compromise and adds uncertainty for North American autos, steel and cross-border supply chains. The 50% January rate remains a threat, not a measure already in force; the product bans and existing tariffs and retaliation are on active implementation timelines.
Full report
Reuters reported at 15:00 UTC on September 25 that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC the administration was comfortable with the current trade standoff. He said the sides occasionally spoke about potential deals but that there was 'no urgency' on the US side. This was an on-record policy statement by the senior trade official.
New US import bans covering a broad range of Canadian goods, including alcoholic beverages, motorcycles and dairy products, are scheduled to take effect next week. Washington is also threatening to raise tariffs on Canadian autos, auto parts and steel to 50% from January 2027. That proposed 50% January rate was not yet in force at publication time.
Greer said the United States was still receiving Canadian oil, gas and potash and that agricultural trade continued across the border, which was why Washington was comfortable with the status quo. His remarks do not mean bilateral trade has stopped or that all contact has ended.
Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on US goods earlier this month. Those measures followed 50% US tariffs on about $20 billion of Canadian goods last month after several negotiating rounds collapsed. Prime Minister Mark Carney has urged Canada to reduce its dependence on the US market further.
The dispute has also raised questions about the future of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Some experts think Washington may seek a Mexico deal first to strengthen its leverage with Canada. Mexican officials said the next US-Mexico talks could occur in October.
Verification: confirmed. The US trade representative publicly stated the administration's position; Reuters checked the related bans, tariffs and Canadian retaliation timeline. News value: A-level major news. Origin: United States. Primary topic: economy. Related regions: Canada and worldwide. Source time: September 25, 2026, 15:00 UTC. N Globe report time: September 25, 2026, 16:14 UTC. N Globe editorial illustration, not documentary imagery.
This report is an original summary based on verified sources, not a verbatim reproduction.
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