Canada-U.S Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc says the United States has confirmed that Canada's protections of language and culture won’t be the subject of future trade actions.

LeBlanc made the announcement on social media, saying Canada looks forward to "further constructive U.S. clarifications on their other positions which would create the possibility of a mutually beneficial trade agreement that respects Canadian sovereignty."

Tensions between the two countries have continued to worsen since trade talks fell apart last week.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Saturday that an agreement had become untenable, accusing U.S. negotiators of trying to limit Canada's ability to have other trade deals, restrict Canada's protections of language and culture and reduce tariffs for cars but not trucks.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has disputed Carney's portrayal of why negotiations crumbled, telling CBC News that while U.S. negotiators had questions about the Online Streaming Act and Quebec's Bill 109 regarding French discoverability on streaming sites, it was by no means a deal breaker.

Meanwhile, Canadian businesses continue to weather U.S. President Donald Trump's latest duties while they await the planned reprisal from Ottawa to take effect.

Late Wednesday evening, Finance Canada issued a statement saying it had been receiving feedback from Canadian industries and is making some adjustments to the list of counter-tariffs.

Canada's response, spelled out on Tuesday, includes raising tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum products from 25 to 50 per cent.

Ottawa will also impose tariffs ranging from 15 to 50 per cent on hundreds of other U.S. exports, including clothing and apparel, appliances and dairy products.

The statement Wednesday said seafood and fish products were removed from the list.to protect against broader economic harm,

Greer has stated on several occasions that if there is further Canadian retaliation, the Trump administration will not sit idly by and take it.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne was asked abut those statements Thursday. He said Canada is taking a measured, strategic and targeted approach.

"We don't want any escalation, but at the same time, we have been clear from the get-go we're going to stand up for Canadian industry, Canadian workers, and Canadian businesses," he said.

"We did not choose that trade conflict. We're just responding to what has been imposed on Canada."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 27, 2026.