Canada will not allow unfair US access to markets if trade talks fail, says Carney

Canada will not allow unfair U.S. access to its markets if talks on various trade deals with Washington ultimately fail, Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Thursday.

President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum and autos earlier this year, prompting Ottawa to respond in kind. The two sides have been in talks for weeks on a potential deal for the steel and aluminum sectors.

Next year, the United States, Canada and Mexico are also due to review their 2020 continental free trade agreement.

"If we ultimately don't make progress in these various sectors, we're going to do what's necessary to protect our workers," Carney told reporters, referring to both the potential U.S. side deals and also the review of the free trade pact.

"If it's the case that the Americans have access to our markets in a way that's inappropriate given the level of access we have to their markets, we will change the terms. But that's not the case right now," he said, but did not give details.

Carney on Tuesday expressed caution after a newspaper reported he might soon sign a deal on steel and aluminum with the U.S., saying "I wouldn't overplay it."