Canada

The U.S. will eliminate Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada and Mexico in exchange for the repeal of retaliatory duties on U.S. goods, though all parties retain authority to re-impose 25 and 10 percent tariffs if there is a surge in imports and consultations about the sudden increase fail.

Mexico is close to a Section 232 deal with the U.S., Mexican Under Secretary for North America Jesús Seade said on Wednesday, adding that he was optimistic Canada was nearing an agreement as well -- but both Canadian and Mexican officials suggested talks remained at a stalemate.

After a Wednesday meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, House Ways & Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) praised the “goodwill in the room” but said USTR’s proposal to address Democrats’ concerns with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement still had a “ways to go.”

The U.S. and its North American trading partners could soon reach an agreement on Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs, Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said on Tuesday.

Vice President Mike Pence visited Peterson’s district this week and called on him to push for a vote on the agreement.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and other Democrats are continuing to engage with the administration about their concerns with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, but an accord on how -- or if -- to proceed toward a vote remains far from certain, lawmakers said this week.

Also: A new poll puts support for USMCA at 70 percent in the U.S., 80 percent in Mexico.

The Canadian government last week removed 10 percent tariffs on some boating devices as part of its efforts to reshape a list of goods hit with retaliatory tariffs in response to U.S. Section 232 restrictions imposed on steel and aluminum last May.