Here is the headline of the day. Canada and the United States are expected to resume formal trade talks, after what Prime Minister Mark Carney called a “good conversation” with President Trump. Trump has said the two sides are “very close” to a deal, and manufacturers on both sides of the border should pay attention.
It sounds like a breakthrough. It is not one yet, and manufacturers should read it that way.
What We Actually Know
The talks are expected to pick up where they stopped in August, when Canada walked away with both sides deadlocked on several issues, including automobile trade. Last week Carney described a slight pickup in discussions, and in an interview published October 30 he indicated that Canada will not sign an agreement just to end the dispute. Carney says negotiating teams will work over the coming weeks. With U.S. midterm elections happening today, no agreement has been announced.
The Tariffs Are Still Here While the Trade Talks Continue
While the diplomats talk, the tariffs keep working. Canada’s counter-tariffs of up to 50 percent took effect on September 8, including on steel, aluminum, furniture, and clothing and apparel, according to the Government of Canada. On the U.S. side, tariffs of up to 50 percent on Canadian steel and 25 percent on autos remain in effect.
Until a signed agreement says otherwise, plan as if those costs are sitting inside your quotes. A hopeful headline does not change a landed cost calculation.
What Smart Manufacturers Are Doing
They are not betting on the news cycle. They are doing three simple things.
First, they list every product that crosses the Canada and U.S. border and write down what each one costs today, tariffs included. Second, they line up a backup supplier outside that corridor before they need one, because the best suppliers get booked fast once a crisis hits. Third, they make sure buyers can find them, since a manufacturer nobody can discover is a manufacturer nobody can hire.
If a deal does arrive, you will be glad you did the homework. If it does not, you will be even happier you did.
If you are looking for that backup supplier, browse verified manufacturers on Manufacturer.com, including the apparel manufacturers and suppliers category. And if you manufacture and want more buyers to find you, get your company listed on Manufacturer.com today.
