Canadian Minister Dominic LeBlanc said that trade talks at the White House were successful, though no immediate deal was reached on steel and aluminum tariffs. LeBlanc, who oversees Canada-U.S. trade, told reporters in Washington that discussions with President Donald Trump focused on strengthening the trading relationship.

He said the meeting was more detailed than previous discussions, particularly concerning sectors affected by U.S. tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the trade law. The principal areas would be steel and aluminum and energy, LeBlanc noted, calling them the most challenged sectors.

Both sides discussed ways to reach a quick deal to improve conditions in these industries. LeBlanc said Trump acknowledged the progress in advancing bilateral security and economic ties. Although no agreement was finalized, LeBlanc described the talks as positive and said he was more optimistic today about achieving solutions on steel, aluminum, and energy issues.