Carney government officials don’t expect big change to trade talks after dramatic U.S. elections - Toronto Star

'We’ll see over the course of the next weeks' how, or if, the tone of the talks now changes, said Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump speak at the Kennedy Center in Washington in 2025. 

OTTAWA — American states where the automotive and manufacturing sectors are major employers flipped to, or stayed with, the Democrats in a rebuke of President Donald Trump’s tariffs but Canadian government officials are downplaying expectations that will bring about big change at the trade negotiating table.

“We’ll see over the course of the next weeks” how, or if, it will change the dynamic of Canada’s conversations with lead U.S. negotiators or the administration’s approach to those conversations, said Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc on Wednesday after a wave of electoral losses by the Republican team under Trump. 

Premier Doug Ford said the rejection of Trump’s trade agenda gives Canada ”a little more leverage,” and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the results reflected “in part” the impact of harmful tariffs, and offered “an opportunity to reset our relationship with the U.S. and restore free and fair trade.”

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc speaks during question period on Parliament Hill, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026.

“The prime minister and president have agreed to work over the course of the next weeks to reach a deal that is in the interest of both countries,” LeBlanc said, but he twice emphasized that, “we’re not there yet.”

That’s despite Trump’s claims prior to the vote that the two sides were “close” and Canada was “willing to give us anything at this moment.”

LeBlanc expects to talk with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer in the coming days but said it isn’t “constructive” to speculate on the upshot of the Democrats’ victories.

However, the Canadian mood Tuesday night, as David MacNaughton, the former Canadian ambassador to Washington, watched the vote result roll in with current Ambassador Mark Wiseman, was “pretty good,” said MacNaughton.

The president still has executive powers to impose tariffs, but the Democrats return to power in Congress provides more mechanisms to force change.