Any US trade deal must ensure robust Canadian auto sector, ambassador says

“We will continue to talk so long as talking and negotiation is producing positive momentum. So we're not picking up our toys and going home, but we have a plan. We have resolve,” Wiseman said, adding he is an optimist that a deal will get done. "We're not moving out of the neighborhood, neither is the United States."

He said the tariff targets for Canadian retaliation were not picked with an eye toward the U.S. congressional elections in November. Asked if Canada is considering more drastic measures, Wiseman said Canada “will preserve all options.”

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Thursday defended the Canada trade talks. He told reporters, "Canada was going to have the best trade deal in the world." He said Canada did not raise the issue of tariff relief for medium- and heavy-duty trucks until the final hours of talks on Friday.

Lutnick said the U.S. viewed those vehicles differently.

“It's a whole different category. It was never raised. These were things they fit in order to make it end," Lutnick said.