Aug 21 (Reuters) – Top trade negotiators from Canada and the U.S. will meet for a third day in Washington on Friday in a bid to finalize a trade deal before new American tariffs due to come into effect on Saturday.
Canada’s minister responsible for trade with the U.S., Dominic LeBlanc, is due to meet U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at 10:30 p.m. EDT (1430 GMT), LeBlanc’s office said in a statement.
LeBlanc met Greer for more than three hours on Thursday and said the two sides were “very close” to a deal, but added that more work was necessary.
Negotiators are trying to meet a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, who says he will impose a new 50% tariff on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT) on Saturday if a deal is not reached.
A deal could mark a detente in what has been nearly two years of tense relations between two long-time allies and major trading partners, and allow broader negotiations on renewing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement to move forward.
(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Katharine Jackson)
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