LeBlanc heading back to Washington after Trump threatens new tariffs

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is set to travel to Washington this week after United States President Donald Trump threatened to slap new tariffs on an array of Canadian goods starting next month.

LeBlanc’s spokesperson Gabriel Brunet says he will be joined by Janice Charette, Canada’s chief trade negotiator.

Brunet did not say exactly when LeBlanc and Charette will be in Washington or identify the officials they are meeting.

The Trump administration said last week it would impose 50 per cent tariffs on certain Canadian goods in response to provincial liquor bans, Canada’s dairy supply management system and certain automobile quotas.

The new levies are meant to put pressure on Ottawa during talks on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement on trade, better known as CUSMA.

Mexico and Washington have started official CUSMA negotiations but Ottawa has not yet started formal talks.

By Kelly Geraldine Malone

— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa