US, Canadian trade teams meet again as tariffs deadline looms

WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (Reuters) - Top trade negotiators from Canada and the U.S. met for the third day running in Washington on Friday to try to finalize a trade deal before threatened new American tariffs come into effect on Saturday.

A deal could mark a detente in what has been 18 months of tense relations that started when President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on key imports from Canada, prompting Ottawa to retaliate with a suite of countermeasures.

Trump says he will impose a new 50% tariff on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT) on Saturday if a deal is not reached.

Canada's minister responsible for trade with the U.S., Dominic LeBlanc, did not speak to reporters as he arrived for the talks.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday mocked Carney, saying he "comes in and puffs his chest out and says, 'I’m going to, like, out-tough Donald Trump'."