POLITICS

Canada and U. S. Trade Talks Back On: What Changed?

CanadaMon Jun 30 2025

Canada and the U.S. are back at the negotiating table. Why? Because Canada decided to drop a proposed tax on big U.S. tech companies. This tax, which would have affected giants like Amazon, Google, and Meta, was set to start soon but was abandoned.

Trump's Reaction and Trade Talks

President Trump was not happy about the tax, calling it unfair to the U.S. He even halted all trade talks with Canada over the issue. But after Canada reversed its decision, talks have resumed—a big win for the U.S. and big tech.

Key Issues in Trade Negotiations

The two countries have a lot to discuss, including:

  • High taxes on goods like steel, aluminum, and cars
  • Extra taxes on imports, with Canada and Mexico partially protected
  • Many goods still facing high costs

Mixed Reactions to Canada's Decision

Some believe Canada gave in too easily and should have stood up to Trump. Others argue it was a smart move to keep the relationship strong.

Next Steps and Future Talks

Canada's finance minister stated that dropping the tax will help talks move forward. He discussed the change with the U.S. Treasury secretary, and Trump and Canada's prime minister also spoke, agreeing to continue negotiations.

This isn't the first time Trump has disrupted trade talks. He has been tough on Canada since returning to office, even joking about making Canada a U.S. state. But now, they're working to resolve issues.

The goal is to finalize a new deal by next year, but many challenges remain.

questions

    If Canada's digital services tax was like a bad haircut, who's the barber that gave it and who's the one saying 'I told you so'?
    How does the cancellation of the digital services tax by Canada benefit U.S. tech firms specifically?
    Is there any evidence to suggest that the timing of the digital services tax cancellation is linked to other secret trade agreements?

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